The Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast and multiple festivals appear to be distancing themselves from Reggie Watts following a disturbing Rolling Stone report that detailed his allegedly toxic, controlling and at times abusive behavior toward ex-girlfriend Katherine McCollough, who died by suicide this spring after developing an addiction to drugs over the course of their relationship.
The outlet reported Monday (Aug. 24) — four days after the initial investigation was published — that the Watts-composed Comedy Bang! Bang! theme song had been notably absent from the latest episode, despite serving as the intro music since 2011. Instead, Rolling Stone writes that the installment was preceded by “a generic British woman’s voice” that simply stated the episode’s number.
Also in the aftermath of the publication’s shocking report on Watts, the 2026 lineups for Greenbelt Festival, Shambala Festival and Electric Picnic no longer display his name. As previously announced, Watts had been scheduled to perform at all three events over the course of the weekend of Aug. 27-30.
Billboard has reached out to Watts’ reps for comment.
The developments come after the musical comedian faced lengthy accusations from numerous people interviewed by Rolling Stone of him pressuring his former partner, McCollough, into using heavy amounts of dangerous substances such as ketamine in order to remain emotionally close with him throughout their romance, which lasted from approximately May 2024 to October 2025. A few months after their breakup, McCollough — a Cornell law student and eventual producer for some of Watts’ comedy endeavors — traveled to Peru to obtain a euthanasia agent and end her life.
Watts’ lawyer, Andrew Brettler, vehemently denied all claims that the former Late Late Show With James Corden bandleader was ever “abusive” toward any of his romantic partners, adding that it’s “dangerously false” to link McCollough’s suicide to her relationship with Watts. “Ms. McCollough did not need any so-called ‘encouragement’ from him [to take drugs],” the attorney told Rolling Stone, calling McCollough an already “experienced” drug user prior to meeting Watts.
Numerous people close to McCollough, however, told the publication that the South Carolina native had only previously taken drugs in small quantities before dating Watts, a vocal advocate of using ketamine as a means of spiritual enlightenment who would allegedly goad his then-girlfriend into taking drugs in large amounts. One source who remained anonymous claimed in the report that Watts is “incredibly reckless” with how he “administers” dosages of ketamine to other people, including but not limited to McCollough.
“I’m confident if she never met Reggie, she’d be alive,” an anonymous former classmate of McCollough’s told Rolling Stone.
Sources alleged plenty of other alarming behaviors exhibited by Watts, accusing him of withholding payment for McCollough’s part in producing and financing one of his comedy specials and his improv talk show Watch Watts Happen Live. Five other women who previously dated Watts told Rolling Stone that they, too, had experienced Watts being allegedly emotionally and psychologically abusive toward them during their relationships with him, which his attorney denied and called “false.” The attorney also denied one woman’s accusation that Watts had knowingly exposed her to an STD, while providing no response to a different claim that Watts had allegedly filmed a sexual encounter with a partner without her knowledge.
If you or someone you know is currently struggling with depression, suicidal thoughts or substance abuse issues, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or contact the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-4357.
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