In the world of standup, it’s pretty hard to top the talents of Gabriel Iglesias. “Fluffy,” as he’s affectionately known, has built a tremendous following around the globe with sold-out shows, branded merchandise and some of the most popular comedy clips on the web. He’s also become a popular figure on Comedy Central hosting the Latino-tinged Standup Revolution series, which was one of the highest rated shows on the network when it premiered in 2011. Although The Last Comic Standing alumn is currently prepping for a new tour and the debut of his second Comedy Central special series, Aloha Fluffy, he took a few moments to talk to ‘LLERO about his successes and the barriers he hopes to break.
“I first got the idea to do standup when I was 10-years-old,” the California native explained of his first inspiration to tickle funny bones. “That’s when I saw Eddie Murphy: Raw. Then I started watching other comics like Robin Williams and Billy Crystal.” Taking cues from his comedic idols, the 30-something Mexican-American developed his own brand of humor mixing impressions, voices, current events and himself (“I’m not fat…I’m fluffy.”) to entertain crowds.
Iglesias explained that his career took off after his comedy clips made their way online. Social media and sites like YouTube have exposed Iglesias’ brand of humor to millions of viewers. It goes without saying that he fully supports the digital revolution. “All of these social media outlets are like a digital version of grassroots,” he exclaimed. “You’re interacting with people, you’re posting your material; it’s great!”