The Edinburgh Fringe Files: Comedian Kuan-Wen Huang on how Andrews are the worst...

00:00:00: on today's episode.

00:00:06: ever, okay?

00:00:26: Because he just wanted me to say to him you know what it was ok.

00:00:30: He cannot stand thinking himself as a bad guy even though is

00:00:45: coming.

00:00:46: And what's the... Oh, it's coming in a day!

00:00:48: Are you and Edinburgh now?

00:00:50: Yes

00:00:50: I have arrived earlier to find shops for that poster just to catch some shows that overlap with my show because some other venues start earlier.

00:01:02: Okay so its an exciting point isn't at this point when you kind of arrive in Edinburgh..I've been to The Fringe twice.

00:01:07: i've worked a few shows at The Fringer.

00:01:08: never had my own show not like But yeah, I've been a few times and like worked with some of the comics.

00:01:15: And then people have got shows on it.

00:01:17: absolutely loved it.

00:01:18: can i ask?

00:01:19: The first question asked everybody at the fringe Which is what's the living arrangements?

00:01:23: because when I last What one of the Times I went we worked in A TV show and I had to stay In a single bed in Some student halls.

00:01:29: that We'd hide cuz everything was booked up.

00:01:31: or what's going on With you?

00:01:33: Well, I'm lucky enough to find because you know that the rent has been rising year after year and yeah.

00:01:41: And it's not the cheapest but used to be able like a small place on my own or decent ARB room in middle of city.

00:01:49: now are retreated.

00:01:50: some people will rent Either like a big flat and I stay in the student residence hall One with twelve rooms share sharing three bathrooms, and one as separate toilet.

00:02:01: That

00:02:02: sounds like what i did years ago.

00:02:04: Do you have do You Have A double bed or single bed?

00:02:06: I have a slightly larger single bed just enough for a larger guy Like me.

00:02:13: So one of the first things I did when, um... When i got there it was like right?

00:02:17: The fringe.

00:02:18: It's gotta be quick coded all over.

00:02:20: Let me get straight on grinder and then..it was so much fun When I was there, have you logged on yet?

00:02:28: Well

00:02:28: i don't have grinder.

00:02:31: Another app that's mostly used in continental Europe and There is another website based one.

00:02:36: funny enough though as soon As like got here someone messaged me And they are in London.

00:02:41: Look at the picture look quite tasty but why do You only message me whenever wait for a month?

00:02:48: So it's slim pickings On The app That your using.

00:02:50: what Are you Using?

00:02:52: I use something called gay Romeo.

00:02:54: It's not particularly popular in UK, but it does get something...I don't know!

00:02:59: I'm slightly wary of using grinder during Fringe and Edinburgh just like-.

00:03:03: What

00:03:03: is the reason?

00:03:05: Oh you do want to accidentally say have a really bad hookup And turns out that other person is an important someone important in their industry.

00:03:14: Do You Know What I Mean?

00:03:15: Yeah That So True?

00:03:18: or like a punter, well I always think this because obviously i'm not a famous person but I host the podcast and radio show.

00:03:25: If I send you my dick then where does that leave everything?

00:03:33: I feel more exposed than opened up to things.

00:03:36: so sometimes especially if your working in an event it can be tricky for you to jump on dating apps around there.

00:03:44: It sounds so funny.

00:03:45: I love it, and i think you've really picked up on something.

00:03:47: You said that Andrews are the worst

00:03:51: Because they

00:03:52: ARE.

00:03:52: They ARE!

00:03:53: You have to explain this...I loved how it was stitched together from life experience And if look out in The Big Wild World take as well.

00:04:00: Okay im just gonna quote something objective.

00:04:03: As soon as um made world know about my intention of doing this show Another very seasoned circuit comic DM me and say, I've been saying this since the eighties.

00:04:14: Thank you for finally proving my point right?

00:04:17: And then i was-I came up to um edin brustan.

00:04:22: in june In a green room another comic heard My show title!

00:04:28: Then he said yeah now that you mentioned it You know like couple of...and He started mentioning specific Andrew Like a comedian.

00:04:34: Andrews They Yeah This one's A bit of cunt That one is a bit of twat.

00:04:38: I think you're onto something.

00:04:44: The term Andrew falls along the class divide, it skews very heavily late forties through to early sixties White and middle class.

00:04:56: No, no it's not just that.

00:04:57: well I had to take out this bit in a show but originally i was like there's something fishy about Andrew because you can't be exactly sure cause many British name or Englishmen are very specific too as social class.

00:05:11: so yes You wouldn't have a plumber called Hugh right?

00:05:14: No he wouldnt.

00:05:15: But you woudn't have university professor Not alot of time call Gary or Barry or Derek Kevin

00:05:22: or something.

00:05:24: But Andrew is very class fluid.

00:05:27: And even David, you will have a posh David but you'll have a geezer dive right?

00:05:33: Yes!

00:05:34: Even Andy and Andrew they are both class fluid.

00:05:38: so that makes it very suspicious

00:05:40: That's true yeah.

00:05:42: So for people who haven't heard the connection between the reason in The Working Out as to why Andrews are the worst.

00:05:50: Could you just outline that for them right now?

00:05:52: Right, I want to leave Scotland in one piece because the patron saint after all is... Well i wrote a show in London and forgot how to bring this show to Scotland.

00:06:02: so please forgive me Scottish people but..

00:06:05: I find Scottish people very forgiving But also they'll let you know when their pissed off.

00:06:10: They will do it all up front.

00:06:12: If I have to hear someone moan when they ejaculate Glosswegian accent in particular.

00:06:20: Yeah,

00:06:20: I understand that.

00:06:23: Shouted.

00:06:23: Has it been insulted?

00:06:25: Because...I think i've slept with some Scottish men before but not a lot and don't know how they will appreciate the good blow job.

00:06:33: you know like it's right

00:06:35: Like anyone?

00:06:37: No!

00:06:37: But if their accent is right..i dont' know what to do.

00:06:40: It just sounds so encouraging.

00:06:44: Well, so Andrews are the words basically is a name that rhymes with you.

00:06:49: So there's a very bad sign to start with.

00:06:51: and yes their name answered come from a Greek word Basically The original meaning of the name itself in like warrior or like courage.

00:07:00: It's very likely know

00:07:01: that.

00:07:02: yeah, it's basically toxic masculinity.

00:07:04: so second bedside.

00:07:06: and thirdly The reason I mention this show is because for a while there are a lot of bad press from Prince Andrew and Andrew Tay.

00:07:14: These two supply eighty percent or bad press about Andrew, right?

00:07:18: And i remember once jokingly talking to the other comedian like oh my god!

00:07:25: both called Andrews.

00:07:26: I think all Andrews are cunts, like a joking way and i wasn't...I didn't intend to do anything about it because these were old memories more than ten years ago.. I have closure of the two relationships until one of them fucking text me again on this first day or January This year.

00:07:48: The pattern is that he only texts twice a year.

00:07:54: Okay, so every time I block his number he will move on to...I don't know for example Facebook or move onto Instagram Or try to message my private account and then block it.

00:08:04: He would message in my facebook comedian page For example at blocking the game And get a new number!

00:08:10: And he'll always say something like Please respond i just want you are well Just wanna know your safe out there things like that.

00:08:19: But ultimately... He

00:08:20: can see that, he can see you're thriving.

00:08:22: He has social media.

00:08:24: Yeah

00:08:25: maybe it was a mistake I didn't have his stage name.

00:08:27: My name is the same on LinkedIn and on British comedy guys!

00:08:34: I remember before i quit my last office job when i went to an interview.

00:08:40: Should i mention if im comedian or not?

00:08:43: So we found out your also doing comedy on this side.

00:08:48: How did that go down?

00:08:49: Did they like or were there like, oh...that's a bit risky for us.

00:08:51: I think the younger generation if i'm interviewed by younger generations By that..I mean like a millennial They're generally fine!

00:08:59: Yeah People are Gen X or above of boomers That slightly worried out when say something disparaging about the company etc.

00:09:09: But these days everyone can do anything to harm A company For example The CEO who went into the Coldplay concert.

00:09:17: Wow.

00:09:18: You know that guy's called Andy as well, see?

00:09:21: Prove my point.

00:09:21: He

00:09:22: is!

00:09:22: Honestly when you stitch it together... ...you're more than onto something.

00:09:28: That woman husband also calls Andy.

00:09:30: I mean they are warmers on to something.

00:09:33: Who's suing who?

00:09:34: there isn't one of them suing.

00:09:35: Is he suing the...?

00:09:36: I heard yesterday so i didn't read it officially.

00:09:40: My husband said apparently he's sueing her and was like oh well thats true love Isn't?

00:09:45: if thats the case

00:09:46: Oh, I mean they should be blowing.

00:09:48: you should not suing but i did look up.

00:09:50: it's only a ledge.

00:09:52: It's the rumor that The guy wants to sue co-coplay.

00:09:56: But I don't think

00:09:57: yeah put me on that.

00:09:59: That's pathetic isn't?

00:10:00: Is is your own problem like you have thee You dare to cheat at just only like real man and little fucking.

00:10:08: am sorry

00:10:10: It's that freeze frame.

00:10:11: isn't its moment where his eyes go?

00:10:13: fuck.

00:10:14: How did that?

00:10:15: as a moment, because it's

00:10:28: not newsworthy is Inside your own place?

00:10:35: that's what a hotel is for right

00:10:38: exactly Exactly.

00:10:39: and on the work there as well.

00:10:40: I mean, I kind of borderline I'm cringing for them And i also feel a bit sorry for

00:10:44: it.

00:10:44: really hope chris martin will go out.

00:10:46: any sort like in news interviews say excel excel

00:10:53: um.

00:10:53: Your show touches on queer east asian identity Interracial dating.

00:10:59: i don't hate the term interracial date my husband's black and weak between us, we don't really say interracial.

00:11:06: We can't really come up with the correct terminology.

00:11:08: where like is it into ethnicity dating?

00:11:10: But I dunno.

00:11:11: there's something about that term.

00:11:11: racial makes me feel a bit awkward.

00:11:13: Queer East Asian identity, inter-ethnicity date in Grindr, romcom delusions... Is it fair to say your show, your Edinburgh Show is part trauma dump at part warning and part

00:11:24: comedy?".

00:11:27: Okay, it's very hard because I obviously have to provide some buzzword to attract media attention and... Of course.

00:11:33: ...I don't want to deny there is this inter-.

00:11:36: I think interracial already sound a lot better than rice queen potato queen drama right?

00:11:41: Like that was... A

00:11:41: hundred percent.

00:11:42: yeah we're moving in the right direction aren't we then?

00:11:44: yes

00:11:45: Yeah instead of saying me as white dick chaser And he's looking for to be drawn into sea of rice i think interacial really sounds at least pedantic and academic.

00:11:54: Yes I gummed through faces, they were faces that tried to deny there's a possibility people only like me because of my race.

00:12:03: But it always happened...I've dated people who are not rice queen but then after me the only date is exclusively East Asian peoples?

00:12:12: Okay i'm kind of converter or something.

00:12:15: yeah

00:12:15: you must have been good

00:12:17: I feel for the very young generation, the type might have term because of Korean culture k-pop but in general i think in the queer at least in a gay community.

00:12:29: I'm talking about gay men specifically.

00:12:32: The East Asian Oriental Culture even though we're oriental sounds offensive But it's considered more feminine and that is why So you can say there are different races being sort of discriminated in other domain, but at least in gay dating and sex.

00:12:50: I think they're kind of like a niche appreciation for different minorities.

00:12:56: But for East Asia we kinda have to play the quiet submissive almost like wife-in-his homosexual relationship role.

00:13:05: Yeah, yeah.

00:13:06: And very often is a white guy at White Top with an Asian bottom and quite often you see the only fan there are operators.

00:13:14: they... They're our Twitter account.

00:13:16: I feel sturdy to say the word Twitter but their twitter accounts call themselves like big white dick for asian bottoms.

00:13:23: and why daddy's?

00:13:26: So it kind of thing.

00:13:29: when i dated these two Andrews were all closeted.

00:13:34: They were like half out of a closet.

00:13:36: But they are the kind of school, that say my sexual preference is my privacy.

00:13:43: I don't need to make it public.

00:13:45: You know this kind of nonsense word.

00:13:47: and so they never talk about being gay with their colleagues or people...they're also little bit..I feel one them has lot.

00:13:57: It's a very compartmentalized in his world.

00:14:00: I didn't get to meet anyone else, and one day he stayed with me on their early dating days.

00:14:08: He said that finally i talked to my flatmate about you because it was tight.

00:14:13: but I want you to know, um...I'd say that i'm dating a guy called Henry because I used go by an anglicized name Henry and he didn't try to describe my detail.

00:14:23: He just said i've dated the guy called henry!

00:14:25: He's stated instead of MY real name And I was going by my real name already.. I'll just say long time ago My parents use.

00:14:33: call me Henry.

00:14:35: He says so his flammie wouldn't suspect is rice queen.

00:14:39: The really made me think Is it that shameful to be dating me or to be daddy someone who is East Asian?

00:14:46: Yeah, yeah.

00:14:46: It's really interesting isn't it?

00:14:49: You mentioned something before about I think in its broader...I can't quite put into words how you said but was very well-putt About How In the gay sex world and the sexualized appreciation of men there seems to now More of an acceptance and it's more widespread for a broader sort of For men from a broader spread of ethnic backgrounds to be appreciated.

00:15:16: And its finding the difference between appreciating a broader Spread ethnicity wise, there is a fine line between that and kind of fetishizing I only go for such-and-such person focusing on which i think can almost negative.

00:15:35: Black men in particular find this as a thing, there's kind of the idealized vision of how black man would be and all of these.

00:15:41: And then finding that attractive in broad spreader things is fetishizing it which I think maybe problematic.

00:15:49: what your take on that more broadly because you sound fairly qualified to make comment about that?

00:15:54: Well even if my show...I have been talking about.. I had a f**k buddy who was also black And I think it's a tough line to tread because as the comedian, they are jokes i make.

00:16:12: Sometimes feel like its not hundred percent PC but my view is that okay.

00:16:18: let me put this way before I move out of my home country Taiwan there occasionally some Caucasian walking in street But their not alot different minorities so never slept with different ethnicity other than East Asian and white before I left

00:16:32: Taiwan.

00:16:32: Is this when you're in Taiwan?

00:16:33: Yeah, yeah.

00:16:34: and When i got here initially tentatively like oh...I don't know how it's like but then..i've lived in London for twenty years by now And You get used to It!

00:16:44: Just Get Used To It!

00:16:45: Don't really think is that big a deal?

00:16:48: I don't want be of the very sort of ideal schools Like.

00:16:51: there's no different.

00:16:52: I dont see Colour.

00:16:53: I do See Colour.

00:16:54: Its just like.

00:16:55: Okay.

00:16:55: Colour its only one factor and I have sexual preferences different men, I've tried different man.

00:17:03: But i wouldn't say... I just think that the world is more....I think the world doesn't exclude some minority group as much it's used to because we need to keep credit for a younger generation.

00:17:19: they can be broader in a much more liberal progressive way even though its quite polarized but at the same time and people are just use to seeing different races in big cities.

00:17:32: Do you not think, right?

00:17:34: Yeah.

00:17:34: You don't know.

00:17:34: until you see like what me and my husband both talk about this for me I didn't really think about it as much but he said Like He didn't particularly look at other black men Until in his twenties because the world around him was set up In such a way that others had only certain kind of luck.

00:17:50: Yeah.

00:17:51: That he was told that you need a man like this in your life, and it's generally kind of white blonde blue-eyed thing... It took probably from to get almost thirty before I was like hang on!

00:18:03: And we have to…I don't know..it is interesting how that has come about because obviously i'm a white man from the north of England and I feel as if had same experience myself.

00:18:14: You do not what you find attractive until You're alongside it with more options, I think.

00:18:21: Yeah so there's not a lot of nine markets but you have some ghoul main market like you see the first that looks delicious.

00:18:30: make up your mind what's your favorite until you walk at least halfway through the market, right?

00:18:34: And I feel like that's why every gamer is spacing.

00:18:38: I think...I don't want to say there's no difference so first before you know the idea The real idea of diversity That it just a vague idea Of race A different race.

00:18:50: Right and then You get in contact.

00:18:52: Then you start To see people more complete Like In a list.

00:18:57: It not as sort of vague.

00:18:59: You still see people as the representation of a race rather than person, but when you get so much contact exposure to different peoples that you see them.

00:19:08: That's what I think how human brains work.

00:19:10: and also at same time it would be too naïve or even simplistic.

00:19:16: there is no difference because for example Asian have very thick thicker hair compared to Caucasians.

00:19:24: And before the shaving pubic culture arrived in Taiwan, I sometimes joke like when i give another East Asian man a blowjob and he goggles because The pubes just step into your eyes.

00:19:38: you know almost Sometimes they are so rough like sponge, the one you do your dishes with.

00:19:44: It is so rough and I hope it doesn't offend people.

00:19:49: but first time i slept with a black man... ...I found really interesting to see very curly cube pubes And just keep touching them and its like dude!

00:19:58: You gonna do it or what?

00:20:01: These are physiological differences aren't there that we all have between us?

00:20:05: some people are afraid.

00:20:07: It's difficult for some people, especially in the context of last few years as well to make certain commentary.

00:20:13: And I feel like you're in a unique position where you can make these comments and i don't think that people are going be offended by your doing it.

00:20:21: Do You Know What I mean?

00:20:22: I Like what the context is for me As a comedian.

00:20:26: so they go out very close to the light A little bit but the stereotype but just to own it, because I may be wrong.

00:20:35: But let's not...be so afraid or not being able talk about many things.

00:20:40: Like let's at least be able to talk about it, we joke about but if I'm wrong i would then admit that.

00:20:44: hold my hands up you know?

00:20:45: That was not right!

00:20:46: That is correct and makes people uncomfortable.

00:20:49: But there isn't all of the sensitive... I'll give an example There.

00:20:53: a common joke like racist comedian do.

00:20:56: they will say Asians have smaller dicks.

00:20:59: even heard from Asian comedians myself..I don't have particularly big tool.

00:21:04: What I notice when go back home country is sold out or meeting people are, I notice...I don't know whether it's because of the change in diet and nutrition but much younger East Asian people tend to have bigger penises right now?

00:21:20: I don't know whether it's scientific because this can be a bias, people having bigger tools are more likely to go to sex party or cruising.

00:21:27: That is very true isn't that really true?

00:21:30: but just in general from my non-very scientific personal experience because i've been going to parks since my teenage years and empirical if evidence of across decades So is

00:21:48: it generally or specifically within your ethnic background?

00:21:51: Are we always saying, Generally Cox are getting bigger.

00:21:55: I feel so because if my evidence and reasoning is right, the East Asian diet used to be much more carb-based.

00:22:05: You eat a lot of rice And you don't quite as much meat Because society wasn't quite westernized or rich for my parents' generation For example.

00:22:14: So when i was teenager and had sex with someone in their late thirties They would not have been the generation that eats like steak or meat.

00:22:24: So their protein intake would have been lower, so this is my reasoning.

00:22:28: I may be wrong...

00:22:29: That's fascinating!

00:22:29: No no it's fascinating and i've never even thought about that.

00:22:34: It's a trope isn't there?

00:22:35: There are various tropes.

00:22:37: The tropes generally.

00:22:39: the racist trope Is somebody of Asian descent will have smaller penis A black man with massive penis And I met plenty people who thrown completely out window.

00:22:49: Yeah its really interesting as to what reasons for that might be.

00:22:53: And then, to you say it makes so much sense and I actually wanted to ask about because we talk about pits on the press release for your Edinburgh Fringe show You've had pit stops at bottom of The Barrel Grinder Encounters.

00:23:07: Can i asked what do think is the worst Grounder Encounter That you have ever had?

00:23:12: It's not grinding let us just say dating app

00:23:18: Dating App.

00:23:19: So someone just asks me Has anyone ever said to you, I don't want to name the person because that person has come out in public but it's a very famous like rumour lesbian in Taiwan and someone just say there.

00:23:35: Has any one ever said that?

00:23:36: You look at that lesbian.

00:23:38: Excuse me!

00:23:39: And then they block me.

00:23:39: A

00:23:41: block-and-run, absolute twat.

00:23:45: Who does

00:23:45: that?!

00:23:47: Honestly,

00:23:47: it's just a random person in Taiwan.

00:23:49: I'm like he fell the knee that i needed to know this though To honor that and now put her into my comedy set.

00:23:56: Do you remember?

00:23:58: In an old day when Justin Bieber was turning from Like A baby Into The man there Was a website called My girlfriend looked like JustinBieber.com.

00:24:12: I can tell you that for my, when i stayed in a similar kind of university of Edinburgh there then.

00:24:21: Yeah so I had University of Edinburgh and halls at the Fringe and in my little single bed.

00:24:27: And um In, oh wow it was something like two thousand nine...and Um..I Had one of the most fun grinder encounters ever remembered to this day.

00:24:37: This super sexy couple what?

00:24:40: One-one of them came onto me on their went round to his.

00:24:44: They both, you know I bought them for both of them and they wanted some scenario where i was like delivering a fucking pizza.

00:24:53: And i was walking up the stairs... Oh god do they want me to get into their your pizzas here?

00:24:58: This pizza's gone cold!

00:25:00: But despite all that it turned in to a fun meet.

00:25:04: It Was Very Good um..and i feel Like its The Kind Of Thing That Wouldn't Have Happened If Grindr Hadn'T Existed.

00:25:09: So Keep Your.

00:25:12: I got sucked into the world of Apple.

00:25:14: like everything i have now is apple product macbook ipad iphone but The only reason, i started using apple.

00:25:21: It was a heavy office user.

00:25:23: it's because grinder Was iphone specific when he got released?

00:25:27: i don't know.

00:25:27: you remember those days?

00:25:28: yes Yes Like

00:25:29: that initial release was only o two and i waited.

00:25:32: And then because it got to other telecom But they still had to be iphone.

00:25:37: Then i switched to iphone.

00:25:39: ever since than i've not been able To go out.

00:25:41: It's locked in a comp.

00:25:43: I tried to leave it once, so i tried to go with what's the other one Samsung Galaxy and that lasted five days And i just thought i can't do this.

00:25:54: But there is something about gay men.

00:25:55: use iphone don't only.

00:25:57: um oh

00:25:57: hundred percent yeah if i like had lost gay points when i got rid of my

00:26:02: phone.

00:26:02: I think there were different version update from Grindr and then, There was one major iOS update And they asked me to re-enter my original login for grindr.

00:26:12: And i completely forgot it.

00:26:13: But now just decided that stop using it because I feel Grindr is a very sort of cherished mainstream game man!

00:26:22: And I love this mainstream game in physics but...I don't really think can compete.

00:26:28: Also I'm more attracted to nerds For sex, it's just easier to arrange elsewhere.

00:26:35: Like Grindr is like a Colosseum of horny beast and I'm not the top price cut...I am NOT the wagyu of Grindr!

00:26:47: These days i can't really put pictures on if ive been there so i found quite frustrating experience actually.

00:26:54: I think people who go up front with whatever their celebrated aesthetic are going do well in that Whereas I think, oh she actually met me.

00:27:02: You might find it more attractive than if you just see what one image of my torso taken three years ago was not the best shop window?

00:27:09: Well,

00:27:09: you don't need greater...you have Instagram for that.

00:27:11: like all this naked half-naked people everything cannot be done without getting half naked around.

00:27:17: whether your a pastry chef or you're like a folklorist singer Or your a chiropractor..I just um i don't understand.

00:27:25: maybe I do but and I hate the gay community more when i look on Grindr, let's not just start with all these... there were so many no Asians please.

00:27:37: And they would write down that not racism.

00:27:41: it is my own preference right?

00:27:44: You see a lot of people above the age of fifty.

00:27:47: They only look for people below certain age.

00:27:49: Are you like the gay in a lot or the Caprio something?

00:27:53: Exactly yeah!

00:27:54: Only go under twenty-fives and your fifty So often.

00:27:57: what I think?

00:27:59: What is it about you?

00:28:00: sort of emotionally and intelligence wise that means, You can't connect with people close to your own age?

00:28:05: Like if I put my actual age on Grindr.

00:28:07: I'm forty two don't really look forty-two but If i put My actual age On there it'd be like oh this guy's made for me dead.

00:28:15: And uh...I have To kind Of Put Myself Down as like thirty three to see what That Passes.

00:28:20: I lied about my weight, because i think that even the fat are distributed by them.

00:28:25: I don't like it on my age!

00:28:26: That's my bottom line of morality.

00:28:28: also do not think if someone actively hates baby in their thirties right?

00:28:34: Are they allowed to maybe wish you say that If your so hostile towards babies In your thirtys then You're not a lot asleep with any men in their twenties when you were in the fifties?

00:28:42: Do nothing is fair.

00:28:43: Yeah I think thats fair.

00:28:44: yeah Thats a contract They should sign.

00:28:48: Your

00:28:48: background is you were born in Taiwan, are your family in Taiwan?

00:28:54: Yes.

00:28:55: They're all in Taiwan.

00:28:56: I escaped from them.

00:28:58: So what it's escaping a good way or escaping to kind of mess the away

00:29:01: In a joking way?

00:29:02: but my mom Is that is a control freak and she wouldn't let me live The life i want To live on My own.

00:29:10: She only have reluctantly a step back.

00:29:12: She would say she has sat down gay But then should try to set Me up with women And then she would say that marriage doesn't have to be based on love or sex.

00:29:24: I'm like, what are you talking about?

00:29:25: Oh wow!

00:29:25: It's so fucked up.

00:29:28: What is it based on though?

00:29:30: Marriage is based on different things generationally isn't it?

00:29:33: and...

00:29:33: That's really interesting For her.

00:29:35: could be economic needs of strategic alliance as i don't want to know more detail of their sex life between my mom & dad for different reasons.

00:29:47: Do you worry with family in Taiwan about the next... This is deviating away from the LGBTQ stuff and the Edinburgh Fringe, but do have concerns for your family's safety?

00:29:58: In terms of at some point in the next few years?

00:30:01: they're saying that China will invade Taiwan.

00:30:03: And make it part of Mainland China kind of attempt to reunify.

00:30:10: It does not worry

00:30:11: Of course, I literally just came back from Taiwan like the last week of July.

00:30:16: I was in Taiwan for two...I couldn't participate so there's a very big...there are twenty-four district elections and we have system called recalls.

00:30:28: It's not very prevalent in other democracy but in Taiwan.

00:30:32: If you think your lawmaker, your MP is shit it's not doing the job they are supposed to do.

00:30:37: if You gather enough signature?

00:30:47: Yeah, after a year they were elected and you need to get I think like ten or fifteen percent.

00:30:55: there are two stages.

00:30:57: And once it gets in the signature then we have over twenty five percent of the electoral system.

00:31:03: We were suspecting some of our lawmakers who are acting as China's agent.

00:31:08: So this is a lot of infiltration, but what I found... Which

00:31:12: would make perfect sense wouldn't it?

00:31:13: Because that kind of thing they do in order to infiltrate Taiwanese civic society

00:31:17: Yes!

00:31:18: But what i've found frustrating Is when people voted.

00:31:21: Some of them are ostriches.

00:31:23: They bury their head in the sand When international news even cover it.

00:31:28: This time coverage hasn't been great Most attention.

00:31:34: I don't want to sound heartless, but i feel like the empathy is selective.

00:31:41: You see in the news most of time it's a tragedy unfolding in Palestine and they really feel for the genocide that has been going on there.

00:31:49: But you don't see the same sort-of death or coverage In what happens in Sudan.

00:31:54: So basically whatever happens in Africa, people don't think yeah that's what happened.

00:31:58: Shit over there right?

00:32:00: I don't know whether this is a bit of like oh it feels good to be publicly against Israel...I think they're maybe a bit anti-Semitism but i'm saying The same kind of suffering in different countries don't get the same level or publicity.

00:32:20: And I guess what happens in Taiwan and Hong Kong for example, they were heavily dealt with by Chinese government but the Western world have moved on.

00:32:30: no one is even interested.

00:32:32: They are people still going on trial.

00:32:34: There're people gone missing They suspect being murdered But nobody talk about them.

00:32:38: So people have been disappeared, kind of suspected.

00:32:40: disappeared by the state?

00:32:42: Yeah and even... Terrifying.

00:32:44: Even Xinjiang in China like the West has moved on that even though the overseas Chinese intelligence people are still targeting the active it.

00:32:53: they just don't get a same amount of press.

00:32:55: And what happens in Taiwan?

00:32:57: we're facing their threat but We don't show any picture or people bleeding dying.

00:33:03: so he doesn't excite media.

00:33:08: I felt there's not much that could do.

00:33:10: I wrote my previous show all about Taiwan, um...I think enough people found it.

00:33:15: they really want to know more.

00:33:16: what happens in Asia but i feel like was met with this general nonchalance by the critic community.

00:33:24: They would be like oh!

00:33:25: People wouldn't be interested.

00:33:26: why should we know?

00:33:28: If you were talking about being a military officer because we have compulsory service

00:33:35: Did you serve in the armed forces of Taiwan?

00:33:37: then?

00:33:37: yeah

00:33:37: I was, and so now i'm a reservist.

00:33:41: So my last show that all Angle Was about.

00:33:44: if I go back to Taiwan And the war happened then?

00:33:48: I wouldn't be able To come Back like what Happened to Ukrainian men you create.

00:33:51: yeah it It was met with people don't find it particularly exciting.

00:33:59: There's a lot of focus on identity politics but the warfare is not something I feel like that our industry interested in.

00:34:07: unless you're actually invaded, does it make sense to?

00:34:11: No!

00:34:14: It makes great TV and video clips if there was war as opposed this vast.

00:34:20: It's an existential threat, isn't it?

00:34:22: It frightens me to consider the idea that next step might be globally.

00:34:28: Seeing as China and Russia are together... ...it may be an invasion of Taiwan by China.

00:34:34: I'm a great supporter of BBC!

00:34:41: But every time BBC reports on my home country, I'm absolutely pissed off because everything has to be in a dichotomy.

00:34:48: It's either pro-China wins or anti-Chinese win and it always portrays whatever happens in our own countries that we are the one who provoked China and would drag down into some sort of regional warfare without actually accusing... A woman just tried to dress whatever she wants and then you say, oh You are provoking someone too.

00:35:11: Yeah asking for it And so they don't really dare.

00:35:14: but its only recent year.

00:35:16: there's enough evidence that China has been having illegal police station overseas That finally start talking.

00:35:22: Previously, it was just a very ignorant sort of liberals views that oh my god if we criticize the Chinese government.

00:35:29: they're gonna make us look racist and then Look what happens to their

00:35:32: trade with them?

00:35:32: I guess as well.

00:35:33: I mean there's so reliance on China economically.

00:35:36: yeah Yeah So in this show i had to pivot away.

00:35:39: i just feel like i get i need To.

00:35:41: i need to attract more people because they find me funny.

00:35:45: And once I have a much bigger following, my name is more out there... ...I will come back and talk about

00:35:51: this.".

00:35:51: So- so I had the joke at start of show just to explain lack or absence of China bashing in the show.

00:35:59: but then move on.. ..and even change the show title into something very very silly Because i realized that silliness as much celebrated.

00:36:08: So kind of changed course for comedy.

00:36:12: Career planning?

00:36:15: No, it makes perfect sense to me.

00:36:16: And then the idea is get hooked them in with the silliness and the queer stuff.

00:36:19: I know but he works still.

00:36:21: you're doing a job there telling a story.

00:36:23: You may sound like a con artist

00:36:26: Pivot!

00:36:27: Pivot It's international relations.

00:36:29: no it makes Perfect sense Pivot.

00:36:31: like

00:36:31: Ross & Friends i have A lot of nighties TV reference In a show and when you perform To different audiences you realize that Gen Z They won't get

00:36:42: it.

00:36:43: You are the first British person that heard of word Gen Z, pronounces Gen Z rather than Gen C for quite a while.

00:36:50: Graham I really love that.

00:36:51: Yeah yeah i refuse to say zi.

00:36:55: so the fringe is uh it's a marathon It's not sprint.

00:36:59: um how are you preparing emotionally?

00:37:01: Uh For this year's run?

00:37:02: because it isn't emotional...it-It's emotionally draining Isn't it?

00:37:05: all them shows lot pressure and its' All on YOU!

00:37:10: It's on you.

00:37:11: this is your show.

00:37:12: You have to be your own one-man band.

00:37:14: How are you preparing yourself for

00:37:15: that?

00:37:15: Um, I brought three teddy bears with me.

00:37:18: So there's a starter.

00:37:20: uh i don't go out like party having drinks in the evening In general both to preserve my voices and The comedian community can be quite clicky And so.

00:37:33: but then it's human nature.

00:37:36: I will also descend into the game while comparing myself to other people and getting jealous.

00:37:41: Like, oh why he's getting this?

00:37:43: Why is not getting that?

00:37:44: but then i always have two robots say you know what i get to do this in a quite good position just be grateful.

00:37:51: But there's an element of.

00:37:53: So like people recommending each other's show and then I realized, oh you don't think of me as your most inner circle of mates.

00:38:01: You know that those kind of thing?

00:38:02: I find it very hard to... And comedians are socially not necessarily awkward but with another nicest people when they come to socializing.

00:38:13: so

00:38:14: there are certain spots in Edinburgh during the French.

00:38:18: They're like The Magnet for Wankers Like the ass lickers, but not in a sense of Talking.

00:38:28: now I'm talking about us lickers like if someone's talking to you But then see some one more important or more useful too their career than your.

00:38:35: they will immediately dump You and go on jump to talking that person so that lacking very basic human decent.

00:38:42: What I noticed though, with the experience of geeking other comedians that are very successful ones always are kindest and nicest people.

00:38:51: yes i think there's a reason they rose to the top.

00:38:54: They were able get their because they act professionally And don't make them feel they're outputting.

00:39:01: It is always in the middle of the pack.

00:39:03: That was worst.

00:39:04: So

00:39:04: it better keep your target off you back isn'it?

00:39:06: what have notice?

00:39:07: in various places?

00:39:09: I play a different game plan now as Man of Forty-Two to like, A Kid Of Twenty Two.

00:39:13: At twenty two and they're gonna be the most confident center of everything.

00:39:16: And now i'm like you know.

00:39:18: take my time and work out what the fuck's going on?

00:39:20: And then keep your head down.

00:39:23: do my thing not pace anyone off enough that they come for me.

00:39:28: You know eliminate me.

00:39:29: It honestly is so true in all these kind of comedy In particular.

00:39:34: Yeah!

00:39:37: bipolar tendency?

00:39:38: I think self-diagnosed, but i don't break about it.

00:39:41: I love the

00:39:42: self diagnosis!

00:39:43: I'm here for them...

00:39:44: I have a bipolar tendency.

00:39:46: so there's that very mean bitchy jealous petty side of me.

00:39:50: But theres another side to me..I am also an old millennial and work in the corporate world close to ten years before doing comedy.

00:39:57: So now im watching this little brother sister Playing my playground things.

00:40:03: I'm just like, you know what do whatever?

00:40:05: You want because it would be nice if The comedy career works out even better, but if not it's alright.

00:40:11: I the reason i do this fringe partially is because one of the exes texts me This January and he has pissed me off so much as they're gonna write a show And say all the shitty things about you right?

00:40:23: I'm going to make in public.

00:40:25: Okay!

00:40:25: The reason I call the show Andrews are the worst at.

00:40:27: won him next time He Google me.

00:40:29: You see...I can't see that Andrews.

00:40:31: other words rising when your just google Kwan-Wen It getting cold to the top Right?

00:40:35: I am coming

00:40:36: genius.

00:40:37: Get the fucking clue, man.

00:40:38: I don't want to hear from you- ever, okay?

00:40:41: Because he just wanted me to say to him you know what it was Okay.

00:40:45: He cannot stand thinking himself as the bad guy even though he's a villain.

00:40:50: so I said i don't want to make of your better!I Wanted You To Be Buried and Wanted To Go To Your Coffin In Shame right?

00:40:57: So I Refused To Give Him That.

00:40:59: that's The Reason.

00:40:59: but the second reason I do this is because last year Due To Olympics I Wanted To Watch These Swimmer And Gymnastics Though I Didn'T Do French The First Two Weeks And I came out the last two weeks and just did a compilation show.

00:41:13: People come to my compilation shows, they ask me when are you bringing another show back?

00:41:22: There's no better encouragement than people specifically appreciate your work, or even ask where you're new work is.

00:41:30: And I think that... You know what?

00:41:31: It may not be liked by everyone but you don't have to.

00:41:35: it just need find the people who like you and this is my sort of continued effort into finding the people that would like me.

00:41:42: But a different side of me A slightly bitchier meaner but also cheekier side of Me.

00:41:48: I didn't talk too much about being gay in first show.

00:41:51: That's quintessentially The reason why i am today.

00:41:55: I am able to asset myself.

00:41:58: I'm so out of the closet, I dismantle the corset because it was an IKEA corset made in China or something like that!

00:42:08: So here's my final question and I feel you've almost answered it.

00:42:14: It is practical revenge And i have seen this done to somebody...I spoke quite a few comics at The Fringe actually that are taking similar sort inspiration on stage.

00:42:23: Taylor Swift.

00:42:23: she does it brilliantly.

00:42:25: Is comedy the ultimate clapback to a bad ex?

00:42:28: Nah, I say that comedians have a tendency of bigging out comedy.

00:42:32: It's just therapeutic.

00:42:36: I'm gonna be honest...

00:42:38: But it feels good to know this person is going through all these things and you're not going away!

00:42:42: And i had make sure exactly what do mean because was only eighty percent show.

00:42:46: Is comedy an ultimate clap back for me?

00:42:49: A bad

00:42:49: ex?!

00:42:50: Is there any way in getting your own back on her like literally built a show, one of the reasons around it is so that this person sees this on the internet.

00:42:59: Do you think there's like an ultimate form of revenge?

00:43:04: I don't know what was the exact English phrase for that.

00:43:06: in The Mandarin Speaking World There Is A Novel and that guy called Mr Q. And Mr Q is the Ultimate Loser because he may be bullied.

00:43:15: He would say something or whisper behind someone's back.

00:43:20: I wish your ancestor's grave been dug up by Thief, right?

00:43:24: And then he would claim it a victory.

00:43:28: It just is some feel-good factor and i actually am a coward because... ...I wanted to write the show and film in a special and put it on YouTube and despite how I hate hate my ex, I still have some humanity left.

00:43:44: i don't think this show will ever be put on youtube because something that i said about one of the exes are so mean...i think he may consider suicide but yeah..i was joking in an ageist manner and it's really horrible....but only stays in a comedy room!

00:44:06: What are

00:44:09: you going to do if look up and see him?

00:44:11: Shit, I have to change this.

00:44:13: Alright so tickets available on edfringe.com apparently Kwan-Wen comedy on Instagram If You Want To Follow Him.

00:44:20: Thankyou so much for joining us.

00:44:22: Fingers crossed the show goes okay.

00:44:25: what a great chat that's been.

00:44:26: thank you very

00:44:33: much.