Eric Williams admits he was being a little "lazy" when he dressed up as Riley's Dad from Inside Out for Halloween. Historically, he's been told he's resembled the Pixar character — a quintessential "dad" in t-shirt, jeans, and a mustache who has become something of an unlikely sex symbol on queer social media.
So when the host of That's a Gay Ass Podcast posted side-by-side images of his costume with the character Sunday on X and took a nap, he was shocked by the online response upon awakening. By the time of this article's publishing, the post has logged almost 10 million views and hundreds of comments, many of them disparaging his appearance.
The comedian turned lemons into lemonade, using his humor (and the unexpected spotlight) to promote his new interview with Kathy Griffin as well as an upcoming performance at Joe's Pub in New York City. But he also has some takeaways from the ordeal about internet culture and the state of public discourse (as well as a message for his haters), which he shares with Out ahead.
Out: What inspired you to dress up like the Inside Out dad for Halloween?
Eric Williams: Well, first of all the doctored image of him with a giant bulge is both hilarious and deeply horny to me. And people have left enough comments on my posts saying I kind of look like him, so I thought, why the hell not?
Also I am…very lazy. A t-shirt and jeans? Perfect.
What do you believe is part of the queer appeal of that character?
There is nothing like a hot dad. I think as young people we had crushes on dads on TV (and some of our friends’ dads), and so now being old enough to lust after them and actually hook up with them is a dream come true.
And while Inside Out is a movie for children, I think gay guys imprint that fantasy onto Riley’s Dad — he’s the dad who would wear sweatpants and you’d try not to look but like…you’d look.
A side-by-side of Eric Williams and the character that inspired his Halloween costume, Riley's Dad, posted to XEric Williams
You posted a side-by-side of your costume with the dad to X. At what point did you notice the responses souring?
I am fortunately not spending a ton of time on Twitter these days, so I posted it on a Sunday morning thinking a few people would see it and find it funny. I then took a nap, and by the time I woke up, the comments had gotten aggressively mean. So I did have that momentary panic of, wait, did I do something wrong?
But then the comments kept coming and coming…until millions of people had engaged with the post. And by then I knew something wasn’t right. I am not ugly enough for this many people to agree.
What were some of the meanest reactions?
Oh my god, they got brutal. Those teenage trolls know their way around the written word.
Shout out to the queen who said I have the “sex appeal of a door handle.” Lots of kids called me “chopped.” Many people said they would sleep with me only if I had a bag on my head. Someone said I should have dressed like Sloth from The Goonies. Just impressively cruel.
I will say a bunch of sweet people defended me and messaged me, and I am incredibly grateful to them. But some people defended me with even meaner comments. Like, “idk they were just so nasty to the guy whos just trying to have fun and has a receding hairline that stretches from louisiana to malaysia.” Like…put the quill down, queen.
But to the sweet and flirty messages, I appreciate you and am rock hard for you.
Any notable allies that can come to your defense?
My husband Matt has really had my back — I feel like a cast member of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. May they rest.
Why do you think people responded with the vitriol they did?
I think that’s what X has become. People want attention and people think the only way they can get it is by being as mean or hateful as possible.
I also think that some people are pissed that I have the “confidence” or “delusion” to say I look like a “hot” cartoon character. I think it pisses people off to see someone that they are not attracted to…not hate themselves.
Because deep down a lot of them don’t like themselves. They’re probably living on their phones all day feeling miserable. I don’t know what’s happening. But I don’t think they’re doing too great.
What was your initial response to the hate? And how did you end up choosing the (fantastic, I thought) public response you had, which was humor combined with a dose of self-promotion?
You know what’s funny is I felt completely fine as it was happening. I have been piled-on by the Internet before — I just wrote about it on my Substack because those instances prepared me for being called ugly (and bald and fat) by so many people.
I chose to respond with a bag on my head to let those people know I see them. The way they’ve been trolling is a cry for help, and I see you all.
Also social media is such a hellscape that if I’m getting that many eyeballs, I might as well plug my podcast — I just released an interview with Kathy Griffin and I want people to see it.
There’s an overarching sense that many social media spaces, X especially, have become toxic, body-shaming, homophobic cesspools. What takeaways do you have from your own experience about the state of public discourse right now and how we treat and speak with one another?
That’s a great question. My biggest takeaway is that we all need to be in therapy. Actually. So we can figure out how to untangle our own senses of self. Right now the world is telling us to attach our worth to our jobs or homes or followers or whatever, and it’s just not true. We cannot attach our worth to the crazy shit people say online. Because if I did, I would not be okay right now.
The only way we can lead happy lives, while social media makes sure we don’t, is to figure out a way to be at peace with ourselves and have radical acceptance. Because it’s the people who haven’t worked through their own baggage who are attacking you. And so you gotta do the work offline so that no matter what happens online, you know you’re that bitch. If that makes sense.
What message do you have for the haters?
Come see your tweets in my show at Joe’s Pub on March 20 — tickets go on sale soon.
What did you learn from your experience?
I need to renew my Klonopin prescription.
Any advice for others going through a similar crucible?
You are allowed three responses and then let it run its course. Don’t stoop to their level.
Then do what I did — go to your friend’s building’s pool, smoke weed, and talk about it for 10 minutes before talking about literally anything else. At least for a few hours. And the second you start to feel crazy, do anything that feels good. Personally, I ate a lot of ice cream. And I went premium. (Tillamook.)
What’s next for you, and where can our readers find more of you and your content?
I’ll be posting more bald and ugly content on Instagram and TikTok, and every week I release a new episode of That’s a Gay Ass Podcast (plus a horny bonus episode on Substack).
Also, I am bringing my solo show Why All The Drama to a few cities next year in addition to Joe’s Pub in New York on March 20. Follow me and you’ll see tickets on sale there!
Eric Williams posts a comedic clapback on X@ericwillz / X
