Jerrod Carmichael is stepping back into the spotlight — and he’s not holding anything back.
The Emmy-winning comedian is teaming up with HBO once again for a brand-new stand-up special titled Don’t Be Gay, premiering Saturday, May 24 at 10 PM ET/PT on HBO and streaming on Max. This marks Carmichael’s fourth special with the network, and if his past work is any indication, we’re in for another raw, revealing, and razor-sharp offering that blurs the line between vulnerability and comedic brilliance.
If Rothaniel cracked open the door, Don’t Be Gay might just swing it off the hinges.
In Rothaniel (2022), Carmichael stunned audiences by coming out as gay mid-special, using the stage not just as a platform for punchlines but as a confessional booth. “I rebelled against it my whole life. I thought I’d never, ever come out,” he said during that performance. “At many points I thought I’d rather die than confront the truth of that… because I know it changes some people’s perceptions of me.”
It was one of the most searingly honest moments in recent comedy history — and the Academy noticed. He took home the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special, and sparked a larger cultural conversation around comedy, identity, and emotional truth.
Now, with Don’t Be Gay, Carmichael is back — and by the sounds of it, doubling down.
“We’ve worked with Jerrod since his first special in 2014, and it’s been inspiring to see him grow and push boundaries at every turn,” said Nina Rosenstein, EVP of HBO Programming, Late Night and Specials. “Rothaniel was raw, intimate, and sparked a conversation about what a comedy special could be. Reality Show took that even further. This new special continues to build on that impact with the same vulnerability and sharp wit that makes Jerrod’s voice so singular.”
The special is written, performed, and executive produced by Carmichael, with longtime collaborator Ari Katcher directing and executive producing alongside Matthew Vaughan, Susie Fox, and Sarah Haughney.
As for what Don’t Be Gay will tackle — details are being kept under wraps. But if you’ve followed Carmichael’s trajectory, you know it’s not just about laughs. It’s about truth. Discomfort. Identity. And the kind of storytelling that makes you sit up straight, even as you’re laughing.
From his breakout sitcom The Carmichael Show to Rothaniel and the genre-bending Reality Show, Jerrod Carmichael has made a career out of sidestepping easy narratives and saying the quiet part out loud. With this latest chapter, he’s reminding us that comedy isn’t just about what’s funny — it’s about what’s real.
So mark your calendars. Don’t Be Gay premieres May 24 on HBO and Max. And if Carmichael’s track record tells us anything, this won’t be a special you just watch — it’ll be one you feel.