{
  "id": 3133921,
  "title": "Reggie Watts Dropped From Podcast Intro & Comedy Festivals After Report Alleging Disturbing Behavior in Romantic Relationships",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/reggie-watts-dropped-from-podcast-intro-comedy-festivals-after-report",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-24T22:46:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Billboard",
    "slug": "billboard",
    "url": "https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/reggie-watts-dropped-comedy-festivals-disturbing-report-1236323431/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Reggie Watts, known for his work on the Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast and as a performer at various comedy festivals, has faced a troubling scandal that has led to his removal from the Comedy Bang! Bang! theme song and festival lineups. Rolling Stone reported on August 24th, four days after their initial investigation, detailing alleged toxic, controlling, and abusive behavior by Watts toward his ex-girlfriend, Katherine McCollough, who tragically died by suicide in the spring. The report revealed McCollough's admission to using drugs, including ketamine, under Watts' influence, allegedly to maintain their emotional connection. McCollough, a Cornell law student and producer for Watts' comedy ventures, had reportedly traveled to Peru to obtain an euthanasia agent after their breakup. Watts' lawyer vehemently denied all allegations of abusive behavior, claiming McCollough was already an experienced drug user before meeting Watts. Witnesses, however, reported that McCollough had only used drugs in small quantities prior to dating Watts. Additionally, multiple women who previously dated Watts accused him of emotional and psychological abuse. The scandal has resulted in the removal of Watts' name from the 2026 lineups of Greenbelt Festival, Shambala Festival, and Electric Picnic, where he had been scheduled to perform.",
  "summary": "A recent piece brought to light several claims of \"reckless\" drug use, psychological abuse & more.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Variety",
        "title": "Reggie Watts’ Theme Song Axed From ‘Comedy Bang Bang’ Podcast After Report Alleging ‘Reckless’ Drug Use in Relationships",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/reggie-watts-theme-song-axed-from-comedy-bang-bang-podcast-after",
        "published": "2026-08-24T13:31:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Rolling Stone",
        "title": "Reggie Watts: Festivals Remove Comedian, ‘Comedy Bang! Bang!’ Drops Theme Song",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/reggie-watts-festivals-remove-comedian-comedy-bang-bang-drops-theme",
        "published": "2026-08-24T15:27:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The A.V. Club",
        "title": "Reggie Watts dropped from Comedy Bang! Bang! intro, multiple festivals after abuse allegations",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/reggie-watts-dropped-from-comedy-bang-bang-intro-multiple-festivals",
        "published": "2026-08-24T19:45:36.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}