Comedian Sarah Cooper On: Humiliation, Perfectionism, and Taking Chances
Oct 4, 2023
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Comedian Sarah Cooper, known for her viral President Trump lip sync videos, talks about perfectionism, impostor syndrome, and moving on from past mistakes. She also shares insights on the relationship between loving your family and loving yourself, and why it's 'nice to be in hell'.
Sarah Cooper's unexpected viral success with her Trump lip-sync videos led to new opportunities and mixed emotions.
Reflecting on her experience with divorce, Sarah highlights the importance of having the choice to leave stifling relationships.
Sarah delves into her personal exploration of identity, questioning her racial identity and embracing the concept of self-acceptance.
Deep dives
The Unexpected Success of the Trump Videos
Sarah Cooper stumbled upon the idea of lip-syncing Donald Trump's speeches on TikTok during the COVID pandemic. She was inspired by his inane and nonsensical statements, wanting to highlight their absurdity. The first video didn't go viral, but the one where he suggested using disinfectants internally gained over a million views overnight. Sarah initially planned to stop making the videos but couldn't resist as Trump continued to make outlandish statements. Surprisingly, her videos exploded in popularity, leading to new opportunities such as getting an agent, selling her books, and turning them into TV shows. However, the unexpected success also brought along mixed emotions as she grappled with whether her humor came from a place of fear stemming from her relationship with her father.
The Shame and Complexities of Divorce
Sarah Cooper opens up about her experience with divorce, having gone through two marriages. Initially, she felt a deep sense of shame after her first quick marriage, believing it to be a failure. This led to her attempting to have the perfect second marriage, fulfilling societal expectations, and erasing the perceived failure of her first union. However, leaving her second marriage was a challenging yet powerful decision, leaving her with a sense of accomplishment and pride. Sarah reflects on the importance of having the choice to leave stifling relationships and highlights that while divorce should never be the ideal, having the option empowers individuals who would otherwise feel trapped.
Exploring Identity and the Pick-Me Girl Phenomenon
Sarah Cooper delves into her personal exploration of identity and the concept of being a 'pick-me' girl. Growing up, as a Jamaican immigrant in America, she struggled to define her racial identity. Sarah recalls not even realizing she was black until she was eight years old. In her writing, she questions whether she is a black woman or a white dude named Craig, highlighting her sense of not fitting within a specific cultural identity. Sarah also delves into her experiences as a 'pick-me' girl, constantly seeking validation and striving to be chosen, whether in an ensemble cast, relationships, or general social situations. She unravels the notion of the 'pick-me' girl, recognizing the importance of self-acceptance and embracing individuality.
The Journey and Complications of Sarah Cooper's Career
Sarah Cooper's career has been full of ups and downs, beginning with her job at Google. She later transitioned to become a writer and comedian, but her breakthrough came with the unexpected success of her Trump lip-sync videos during the COVID-19 pandemic. The response to her videos surpassed her expectations, leading to various opportunities in Hollywood, including securing an agent and selling her books. However, Sarah reflects on the complexities of sudden fame, grappling with feelings of impostor syndrome and the pressure to continuously deliver engaging content. Despite the challenges, she finds joy in her writing and making people laugh.
The Importance of Breaking Away from Obligations
In the podcast episode, Sarah Cooper discusses how her viral success on social media, particularly her lip-syncing videos, became an obligation rather than a source of enjoyment. She highlights the pressure she felt to constantly deliver content and the impact it had on her creativity and well-being. Cooper shares how meeting her heroes in Hollywood further accentuated her struggle with impostor syndrome, as she didn't fully know herself or feel confident in her own identity. Ultimately, she reflects on the importance of recognizing when something becomes an obligation and finding ways to regain the fun and joy in one's pursuits.
Navigating Power Dynamics and Embracing Embarrassment
The podcast episode delves into Sarah Cooper's experiences working with Jerry Seinfeld and the complex feelings she developed towards him. Cooper admires Seinfeld's ability to be authentically himself in various professional settings, and she contrasts his approach to power with that of her own father, who wielded power through yelling and cursing. This discussion prompts reflection on the privilege that individuals like Seinfeld possess and the different ways it can be used. Cooper also explores how her feelings towards powerful men, including her attraction to them, were rooted in her own sense of powerlessness and the role she played in her family as a tension-easer. Additionally, she acknowledges the fear of embarrassment and how it can limit one's willingness to take risks, emphasizing the importance of not abandoning oneself and embracing future opportunities.
She also roasts me mercilessly. This one's really fun.
Sarah Cooper is a writer and comedian who has over 3.3 million followers across social media. She is the author of the new book Foolish: Tales of Assimilation, Determination, and Humiliation. She is the star of the hit Netflix comedy special, Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine. Her current projects include Unfrosted, an upcoming Netflix comedy written by, directed by, and starring Jerry Seinfeld.
In this episode we talk about:
Perfectionism and impostor syndrome
The relationship between loving your family and loving yourself
