Aziz Ansari isn’t totally ignoring the sexual misconduct accusations he faced last year.
After months of hosting small stand-up shows around the country, Ansari is back on a full US and European tour and made his way to Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Insiders told Page Six that the “Master of None” star didn’t joke about the Babe.net article that landed him in hot water, but referenced it at the end.
“No jokes but did briefly comment on it at the end of the set when thanking us for coming,” the insider said. “It was a great show with some new material.”
A separate source added, “He addressed it briefly and somewhat in joke format, nothing specific, referencing it like ‘that story.’ Aziz was really, really good and some of the jokes seemed more introspective like he’s thought a lot about what all came out.”
The January 2018 article detailed a woman’s sexual experience with him that was interpreted by those who read it as either Ansari’s clumsy lovemaking or sexual misconduct. He responded that the encounter “by all indications was completely consensual.”
Clearly, Ansari didn’t go the same route as Louis C.K., who continuously uses the sexual harassment allegations he faced as fodder for his jokes.
The 35-year-old “Parks and Recreation” star also announced Tuesday that he would be returning to New York City next week to “work out some new material.”
Like his Philadelphia pop-up show this week, the time and location of Ansari’s NYC gig next week have yet to be announced.