Yahoo Lifestyle Amy Schumer Roasts the Daily Beast’s Joanna Coles at Comic Relief Gala
Monday night‘s Comic Relief Gala in New York City combined comedy and compassion, bringing together entertainment heavy-hitters to support the fight to end global poverty. The annual event delivered sharp humor, heartfelt moments in stand-up sets and musical performances—and a strong call to action for a world in need.
“When we laugh together, we share something deeply human and powerful,” Alison Moore, CEO of Comic Relief US, said in her opening remarks. And with $436 million raised and over 52 million children and families helped globally, the mission was clear: laughter drives change.
Using the power of comedy to tackle life’s problems has been a huge part of my life... After all these years, it’s incredible to see the enduring impact the organization has made and will continue to make.
Comedian Phoebe Robinson set the tone with a call-out to the room: “If there’s anyone here in their 70s and down to put me in their will, that’s cool. I’ll see you through the last third of your life.” She went on, “Anyone have advice on how to have sex with a 70-year-old?”
A voice from the crowd yelled, “Turn the lights off!”
Saturday Night Live alum Tim Meadows brought some big ideas, asking, “Why aren’t we throwing garbage into volcanoes? I bet God’s thinking, ‘Why aren’t they using the giant holes I made?’”
The Daily Beast contributor Matt Friend delivered a pitch-perfect, mercurial Donald Trump impression, engaging with The View host Whoopi Goldberg in the audience. “You like me now, Whoopi?” Friend-as-Trump asked. “She doesn’t like me too much on her show.”
Amy Schumer also gave Goldberg a shout-out in her set, which featured a mix of physical comedy and biting commentary: “People want to be hot so bad they literally... RUN.” She jogged in place, panting dramatically before yelling, “Somebody f*** me!” During an emotional tribute to Whoopi Goldberg, she abruptly stopped and asked, “But like, who’s eating chips?”
At this point, a British voice in the audience piped up, “They’re roasted vegetables.” Schumer imitated the voice and quipped, “Dame Judi Dench is heckling me in the middle of me honoring my heroes.” The snack culprit? None other than the Daily Beast’s Joanna Coles, hilariously called out at her own co-chaired event.
But the night wasn’t all jokes. One formerly-homeless individual shared his story of finding stability through Comic Relief’s partner Covenant House. After fleeing brutal hardship in Africa, Liam Lunkamba found himself unhoused and living under the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City; with assistance, he was able to enroll in college and find a job—and is now a “youth ambassador” at Covenant House NY. Lunkamba’s inspiring story inspired many in the audience to open their wallets.
The evening closed with a heartfelt remembrance from Billy Crystal—“Go to his IMDb and you will s--t yourself,” Schumer noted— Goldberg, and Zelda Williams, standing in for her father, the late Robin Williams. (The three comedians and friends first co-hosted what was for years an HBO telethon for the first time in 1986.)
Williams reminded the crowd that her dad often hired homeless people on his film and TV sets, creating “generational differences” in their lives. “It doesn’t just take companies, it takes individuals,” she said.
In the end, Crystal summed up the charity’s mission perfectly: “Comic Relief—it’s no joke.”
