'The Breadwinner' Bombed, So Nate Bargatze Took Off His Mask

Last year, Nate Bargatze was on a media blitz heading into what would become a disastrous performance hosting the Emmys. During that time he started talking more openly about his faith, which naturally raised a few eyebrows, but Bargatze went to great pains to stay squarely in the middle of the road. He had a movie coming out, and he made an impassioned case that he’s simply a guy who believes in family-friendly entertainment in the mold of Home Alone, King of Queens, and TGIF sitcoms. Nate did such a convincing job that I actually argued that he’s not a milkshake duck. At least yet anyway.

Welcome to the yet.

With The Breadwinner now DOA at the box office, Nate doesn’t have to concern himself with selling theater tickets. Standup audiences are notoriously loyal, so he’ll be fine even after the growing debacle of the past 48 hours. Let’s be real, this is no Louis C.K.-type scandal, but it could hamper Bargatze’s dreams of becoming a household name. Although, the one-two punch of bombing the Emmys and the box office probably took care of that.

Anyway, Bargatze made an appearance at the Freedom 250 event on Sunday where he proceeded to pose for photos with RFK Jr., Sarah Huckabee, and Joe Rogan. If that wasn’t bad enough, Bargatze is seen milling about the UFC fight on the White House lawn right next to Trump. Whoopsie.

Interestingly, folks couldn’t help but notice that Bargatze made zero mention of his Freedom 250 attendance on his Instagram, nor did he upload any photos from the event. Did he think people just wouldn’t notice? Considering no one saw his movie, that’s a fair assumption. However, it didn’t take long before his team was forced to release a statement. Via HuffPost:

“Nate is family friendly entertainment first,” a representative for Bargatze told HuffPost in an email Monday. “He is not political nor is anything he produces. He is also a huge UFC fan and has been since before it became political.”

His rep noted to HuffPost that Bargatze has “fans from both sides of the aisle,” and that he “appeared on The View and Fox and Friends” to promote his new movie “The Breadwinner.”

The rep also noted that the comedian “doesn’t turn down photo requests.”

“For example, there’s a photo of him and Don Lemon somewhere,” his rep said.

I’m sorry. *rubs eyes* Did his rep really just say Nate Bargatze isn’t political because there’s a picture of him with a Black guy? Jesus. I was going to ask if Nate has any sort of competent publicist team that would have advised him against attending this event unless he wants the exact headlines that are happening now. And maybe he does.

Nate’s next big project is a theme park in the middle of Nashville, Tennessee. Posing for a photos at this White House probably isn’t going to deter ticket sales at that location, amirite? That being said, even after grinning next to America’s most brain-wormed health secretary, I still don’t believe that Bargatze is MAGA. (Definitely a Republican though.) However, he is something that’s just as bad: A white guy who doesn’t give a crap.

As much as Nate and his rep try to say otherwise, “I’m not political” is a 100% political statement that has a very clear meaning: “I got mine. Screw you.”