Arnez J. On Katt Williams, Kevin Hart, Mo’Nique, Rickey Smiley, Bernie Mac, BET & Comic View In this episode of Club Shay Shay, Shannon Sharpe sits down with the electric and fearless Arnez J.—a legendary stand-up comedian, dynamic actor, and one of the most physical performers ever to grace a comedy stage. With nearly 35 years in the game, the former host of BET’s Comic View and Def Comedy Jam alum has performed to sold-out crowds across the country and built a legacy rooted in originality, raw honesty, and side-splitting impressions. Arnez opens up about his deeply personal comedic influences, including imitating family members like his Uncle Charlie and honoring his developmentally challenged brother Rodney through his act.He and Shannon revisit their brief fallout over a fishing trip gone wrong and Arnez missing Shannon’s Hall of Fame induction. He shares wild stories from his days as a flight attendant—including altercations with passengers, getting suspended, and even sending a photo of his rear end to the airline after they tried to rehire him. Arnez also dives into his complicated family history: being told at his grandmother’s funeral that his father wasn’t really his father, the heartbreak of trying to help his sister during an eviction, and the tragic deaths of his brothers. He reflects on the impact of his mother’s passing just moments before performing one of the best shows of his life, and the eerie coincidence of learning his brother had died while doing an interview about childhood trauma. He also weighs in on comedian rivalries, the Katt Williams interview, and how he once beat both Kevin Hart and Katt Williams in a race. Plus: his beef and reconciliation with Rickey Smiley, his thoughts on joke-stealing, a wild piece of hate mail from Australia, and why he lives by the bro code. Arnez shares even more unbelievable stories—from reacting to a bomb threat mid-flight to pushing an old woman during the chaos. He describes doing comedy routines over the plane intercom and how a passenger pushed him to pursue stand-up. He recalls his first open mic at Comedy Works, meeting Robert Townsend, and drawing early inspiration from Flip Wilson, Robin Williams, and Jim Carrey. He details his rise in comedy alongside legends like Martin Lawrence, Tommy Davidson, Bernie Mac, and Cedric the Entertainer. From wearing roller skates on Def Comedy Jam to out-skating Usher, Arnez reflects on the originality that’s kept him in the game—and the gatekeeping that’s kept him out of things like Netflix’s Def Comedy reunion. Arnez talks about auditioning for Showtime Allstars after just four months in comedy—beating 500 comedians but being edited out of the special. He shares what people get wrong about Mo’Nique, why he holds deep respect for Katt Williams, and why he avoids airing out dirty laundry. He opens up about his traumatic childhood: being shot by his father during a PTSD episode, his troubled relationship with his mother, and the moment a police officer assaulted him for skating backwards—an event that ended his baseball dreams and put the officer in a coma. He also talks about how martial arts, fatherhood, and comedy helped him heal. This raw conversation is packed with unforgettable stories, powerful moments, and nonstop laughs. Arnez J doesn’t hold back as he shares the heartbreak, hilarity, and healing that have shaped his one-of-a-kind journey. Tap in—you won’t want to miss a second. #ClubShayShay​ #ArnezJ #comedian Buy LePortier: https://leportiercognac.com/products/shay_vsop_750ml/ SUBSCRIBE to get the latest Club Shay Shay content: https://www.youtube.com/c/ClubShayShay?sub_confirmation=1 Listen to the Club Shay Shay podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/club-shay-shay/id1531023690 Listen to the Club Shay Shay podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/060hDdnydsJyMi17TmvyAh?si=iuda1z7oTE-21ZYzwiUdhg&nd=1 Like Club Shay Shay on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ClubShayShay/ Follow Club Shay Shay on Twitter: https://x.com/clubshayshay?s=21&t=PF1soCgsTT_NEerDJm9Lfg Follow Club Shay Shay on Instagram: https://instagram.com/clubshayshay?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Follow Shannon Sharpe on Twitter: https://x.com/shannonsharpe?s=21&t=PF1soCgsTT_NEerDJm9Lfg Follow Club Shay Shay on Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@clubshayshaypod?_t=8fJ79WZy2fb&_r=1 About Club Shay Shay: Club Shay Shay is a weekly podcast hosted by Shannon Sharpe – 3x Super Bowl champion, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and co-host of First Take on ESPN. Each week Shannon will sit down with athletes, celebrities and influencers to break down, analyze and discuss the latest headlines in sports, pop culture and everything in-between. Get on the VIP list at Club Shay Shay NOW and never miss an episode! Arnez J | EP. 170 Link of Ep. https://youtu.be/3N87-NE_48I Club Shay Shay https://www.youtube.com/c/ClubShayShay