Comedian and musician Reggie Watts has been removed from several festival lineups and his iconic theme song was notably absent from the latest episode of the Comedy Bang Bang podcast following a wave of public scrutiny tied to recent allegations.
Watts, best known for his role in the IFC series adaptation of Comedy Bang Bang from 2012 to 2016 and later as bandleader on The Late Late Show with James Corden, also composed the theme music for Scott Aukerman’s long-running comedy podcast, which launched in 2009.
During the August 24 episode featuring Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, listeners observed that Watts’ theme song did not play—marking the first time such an omission occurred.
The decision seems connected to a new investigative report published by Rolling Stone, which alleges that Watts engaged in “reckless and selfish” behavior involving drug use within intimate relationships.
Among those named in the article is Katherine McCollough, an former partner of Watts who reportedly struggled with a ketamine addiction during their relationship. According to the piece, she suffered a drug-induced manic episode in the summer of 2025. Their relationship ended in October of the previous year; tragically, McCollough traveled to Peru in March and died by suicide.
In a statement relayed through her family, McCollough’s loved ones stated that her substance use significantly escalated while involved with Watts, describing drugs as a central element of their dynamic. They went on to assert that they firmly believe she wouldn’t have met Watts or been exposed to what they describe as his “extreme views on psychedelics and substances,” adding, “she’d still be alive today.”
Watts’ legal representative strongly rejected these claims, calling them “dangerously false” and accusing Rolling Stone of constructing a “preconceived narrative” aimed at unfairly implicating him in McCollough’s death. The attorney emphasized that McCollough was already an experienced user of drugs and did not require any encouragement from Watts to continue using substances.
The Rolling Stone article includes testimonies from five additional women who allege similar patterns of reckless conduct around drug use during their respective relationships with Watts. Two of these individuals also accused him of emotional and psychological abuse.
His lawyer has categorically denied all allegations of abusive behavior.
Beyond the absence of his theme song on Comedy Bang Bang, Watts has faced professional repercussions across live events. Both the Greenbelt Festival and Shambala Festival in the UK have officially announced his removal from their upcoming bills.
Additional cancellations include performances in Bristol alongside CAPYAC, as reported by Consequence.<|tool_calls_section_begin|>
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