JESSICA KIRSON
Being female and gay “has made it a lot harder” to make it in comedy, says Jessica Kirson. “It has taken a lot longer to get to where I am than it would have taken a man. I am grateful for my success but it has been frustrating at times.” Despite the challenges, Kirson continues to stand out and speak out: her videos have over 150 million views on social media, she’s a regular on This Week at the Comedy Cellar, and has appeared on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The View. In 2021, she produced Hysterical, a documentary about women in comedy featuring Margaret Cho, Chelsea Handler, and Fortune Feimster, among others. Her one-hour special, Talking to Myself, aired on Comedy Central. Kirson also acted in and served as a writer, producer, and consultant on the Robert DeNiro film, The Comedian. Going forward, Kirson hopes to pay it forward. “I hope to have enough power, enough status to make a difference,” she says. “I hope to be able to help people as much as I can and give to people in need.”
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