Just when we thought we reached the end of Katt Wiliams’ year of controversy, a recent interview with Cedric the Entertainer, has reignited fans’ reactions to the two comedians’ beef.
While appearing on the “All the Smoke” podcast, “The Neighborhood” star revealed that he wasn’t always planning to be professionally known as “Cedric the Entertainer.” He had another, less flashy, but more familiar name in mind. The actor/comedian told hosts Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson that he originally went by “Cheerio.” Yes, just like the popular breakfast cereal. However, General Mills had other ideas and quickly hit the rising comedian with a cease-and-desist.
“The official letter showed up with the green stamp on the outside with the seal on that joint,” he said. “I used to go by Cheerio. I had the chain and everything.”
Cedric and the hosts had a hilarious time joking about the absurdity of the choice, with Barnes even asking him if he was “honey nut or regular?” Replies to an Instagram clip of the moment also had fans cracking up about the ridiculous name.
One person noted, “General Mills did him a favor.”
Someone else had thoughts on his marketing plan, writing, “a chain with CHERRIO on it is PREPOSTEROUS!!!!”
Though most viewers were having fun with the story, some saw it as a chance to revisit Cedric’s dust up with Williams.
Referencing Williams’ allegations that Cedric stole jokes, one user replied, “A name too? You stole a NAME TOO?”
“Katt killed All their careers fa me personally,” wrote someone who seems to be firmly Team Katt.
As previously reported by The Root, on his infamous “Club Shay Shay” interview, Williams accused Cedric of stealing one of his jokes, then using it in his “Original Kings of Comedy” set. The “Barbershop” actor responded to the allegations by explaining that they both had jokes based on Black culture. He also took issue with Williams making his claims public before talking to Cedric in person, saying, “If we rock with each other and I see you, and you feel that way, then say that to me. That’s what I didn’t really appreciate.”
These joke stealing allegations may follow Cedric throughout his career, but he’s so mainstream at this point, it’s doubtful they’ll do any real damage. He has a successful CBS comedy currently airing its seventh season and still has a profitable stand up career. It’s really just a question of how many of his fans truly care about the origin of a joke, or if they just want to see Cedric the Entertainer be funny?