Michelle Buteau’s journey to success has been marked by relentless determination, humor, and the power of manifestation. In 2013, she set a five-year goal for herself: to have two children, her own TV show, and a backyard in Brooklyn for composting.
Fast forward to today, and Buteau has not only achieved these goals but surpassed them, living in the Bronx with her family and gracing the stage with a Netflix special, Michelle Buteau: A Buteau-ful Mind at Radio City Music Hall.
As the first woman to ever film a comedy special at Radio City, Buteau describes this milestone as a culmination of years of hard work, laughter, and advocacy.
“I never asked my team, ‘Can I do this?’ I was like, ‘How can you help me do this?’” she says, emphasizing her refusal to be limited by others’ expectations. For Buteau, success as a Black, brown, queer, and fat person requires an unshakable belief in oneself and a refusal to be held back.
Her special, a vibrant reflection of her career’s “slow simmer,” builds on her years of experience in New York’s stand-up scene, where she performed in intimate venues before ultimately conquering the 6,000-seat Radio City.
Drawing from her personal experiences of marriage, motherhood, and marijuana, Buteau’s humor is both inclusive and relatable. She champions the idea that comedy should make people feel safe, secure, and entertained, all while sharing a laugh.
In a standout moment of her special, Buteau addresses comedian Dave Chappelle’s controversial remarks, calling out his recent homophobic and transphobic rhetoric.
“I’m not saying you can’t say things – I’m just saying, ‘Can you make it funny?’” Buteau remarks, underscoring her belief that comedy should challenge harmful ideas rather than perpetuate them. Her criticism extends beyond Chappelle, reflecting her larger concern with cultural shifts and progress, asserting that “sometimes we’ve got to move forward.”
Buteau’s comedic career took an unexpected turn after 9/11, when she transitioned from her role as a news producer at NBC to stand-up comedy.
“Comedy saved me in a lot of ways,” she shares, describing how it helped her find her voice and stand up for herself and others. For years, Buteau honed her craft, performing at small venues and enduring difficult gigs before breaking into acting, with notable roles in films like Happiest Season and Marry Me.
Her dedication paid off with the creation and production of Survival of the Thickest, a Netflix series inspired by her 2020 book, set to return for a second season.
Looking to the future, Buteau is determined to manifest even more success, with a focus on growth for herself and her family. Her husband of 14 years, photographer Gijs van der Most, has been a source of inspiration, pushing her to expect more from herself.
“My life changed when I had someone who truly understood me,” Buteau reflects. “The older I get, I just want to know that I’ve done everything I could to make me happy.”
Buteau’s story is one of resilience, humor, and empowerment, as she continues to break barriers and inspire others to dream big and reach for the impossible—while also acknowledging that sometimes, the most important thing is to have a good laugh along the way.
