Katt Williams’ Marine claims questioned
Comedian and actor Katt Williams
CBS News has a story today about comedian Katt Williams. The funnyman has long claimed to have earned his EGA by finishing Marine boot camp, only to be tossed when they found out he was underage. When CBS asked the Corps for their version of events, they said, “Who?”
From CBS;
Katt Williams, the Emmy-winning actor and renowned stand-up comedian, for years has claimed to have joined the U.S. Marine Corps as a teenager and successfully navigated the rigorous training only to be drummed out of the military when his superiors discovered he was a minor. The Marines told CBS News they have no record of him.
Dating back to at least 2016, Williams has claimed association with the U.S. Marine Corps when talking about his personal biography in video blogs, in his stand-up routines and in interviews viewed and heard by tens of millions of people. His claims of military service seem to not be attached to any of his critically acclaimed jokes or characters he has created for stage and screen but instead, a part of his journey towards comedy.
The U.S. Marine Corps tells CBS News there’s no record of Williams ever entering military service or attending any Marine Corps recruit training camps.
Multiple emails and phone calls were sent to Williams’ publicist, Amy Sisoyev, and his representatives at Creative Artists Agency, but no reply was returned for almost two weeks.
Earlier this year, Williams sat down for a nearly 3-hour interview with ESPN’s “First Take” correspondent Shannon Sharpe on his podcast, “Club Shay Shay.” The interview has racked up more than 83 million views on YouTube as of publication and is the most watched interview in YouTube’s history.
Sharpe, a former Denver Bronco and ex-NFL analyst for CBS Sports, asked Williams about being raised in Florida.
“I try to join the Marine Corps and they won’t accept me because I’m too young, and I’ve lied and told them I’m 16 and my family is moving down and I don’t have my ID but it’s coming. And so they [the Marines] let me go to the boot camp,” said Williams.
Similarly, on comedian Marc Maron’s podcast last year, Williams said, “And then I attempt to join the Marine Corps, and I go off to boot camp and I pass, and then they reveal that I’m too young, and they give me a little ceremony because I did pass, you know, oo-Rah.”
He added: “I wasn’t even 16. I wasn’t even 16. I was already — I had miscalculated it wrong. I thought that you know, by the time I got back I would be good, but I hadn’t turned 16 by the time boot camp was over.”
Maron, whose “WTF” podcast garners more than 55 million listens per year, asked Williams if he got through boot camp and about his ceremony.
Williams reaffirmed that he passed boot camp, saying, “When you come back everybody gets the ceremony and I was supposed to have been, probably put in the brig or court-martialed or something, but they didn’t treat me like that. … As far as the Marine Corps thing, whatever those commercials were selling, you remember those commercials back in that time … if you wanted to join a gang, the Marines was the gang to join.”
On Saturday, CBS News attended the Vulture Festival in Los Angeles where Williams was interviewed about his life and career by Jesse David Fox, a Vulture writer and host of “Good One: The Podcast About Jokes.” Williams is set to launch his multistate “Heaven on Earth” tour next year.
While Williams did not discuss his alleged short stint in the Marines, the comedian said “Thank God I tell the truth” when asked by Fox about his past statements in interviews.
CBS News filed a Freedom of Information Act request for records pertaining to Williams’ alleged enlistment in the Marine Corps.
Marine Corps officials searched for records pertaining to Williams using his full name — Micah Sierra Williams — and other identifying information such as his date of birth and social security number. Officials told CBS News that their database of official military personnel files dates back to the 1960s, housed at the National Personnel Records Center of the National Archives.
“We searched the files maintained by the Manpower Management Performance Branch but were unable to identify Mr. Williams as a member or former member of the U.S. Marine Corps,” wrote an official in response to CBS News’ public records request.
Marine Corps officials told CBS News that if Williams’ story was accurate, there would be records showing his entry into military service, his graduation and discharge, even if he fraudulently enlisted as a minor.
Army veteran Anthony Anderson, who runs “Guardians of Valor,” a popular social media website that investigates service member records, told CBS News that Williams’ claims are a “slap in the face of people who have earned the title of Marine.”
“Boot camp for the Marine Corps is not an easy task. To call yourself a Marine, you have to go through at least 13 weeks of boot camp and successfully navigate the crucible … people have died in training at boot camp trying to earn the title of Marine,” said Anderson.
While it’s unclear when exactly Williams began to claim he graduated from Marine boot camp, the earliest examples CBS News could find stemmed from Williams’ 2016 feud with actor and comedian Kevin Hart.
In a video that appears to have been recorded by Williams, addressing drug abuse allegations, the comedian says, “Ever since I got out of the Marine Corps, I can only breathe out of one nostril.”
That same year, Williams was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and battery charges after a fight at an apartment complex in Gainesville, Georgia, with a 17-year-old high school wrestler who was also charged, according to previous news reports. Williams pleaded not guilty and the case lingered on until earlier this year when local prosecutors decided to drop the case against Williams.
Soon after his arrest Williams spoke about the episode on stage, suggesting that he wasn’t actually put into a chokehold by the teenager and in fact, that Williams had let him win, adding, “I’m Semper Fi till I die, Marine Corps b—-. I passed motherf—ing boot camp at 16.”
Williams’ routine was removed from YouTube due to copyright infringement issues, but the video still exists in the reader forum on Military.com, a military news and culture website. A user posted the video to the website in 2016 and asked: “Katt Williams a Marine?”
Since the article doesn’t give much for time references, Katt Williams is 53 now (born in 1971). So his claims of having enlisted at 16 without ID and being shipped off (and graduating) recruit training in 1987 do seem more than a little suspect. We haven’t done our own FOIA, so we can’t confirm or deny any claims made by CBS News. CBS was the outlet that famously went to print with fake documents on George W Bush’s Air National Guard service during the 2004 Presidential Election.
Category: Breaking News, Marines, Stolen Valor, WTF?
Hillary Clinton claimed she went to a Marine Recruitment Center to enlist and they told her that women can’t join the Marines.
Sometimes when people don’t pass the ASVAB pre-test and flunk it so badly the recruiter might not feel like taking them to MEPS just to see them flunk the actual ASVAB, especially if they already hit mission for the month. So you just tell them anything so they won’t come back and waste your time.
Hack Stone was recruiting in the Midwest. This Native American girl wanted to enlist, and if she could not get into the Corps, she wanted the Corps to get into her, specifically Sergeant Hack Stone. She did not meet the height/weight standards for the Marine Corps, nor for Hack Stone. Besides being overweight, she had a daughter, which would require a waiver to allow her to enlist. Hack Stone gave her the mini-ASVAB (Mick Jagger is a man used to having doors opened for him..), and she scored around 30. At that time, the minimum for males on the actual ASVAB was 31, and females was 50. Hack told her that she would need to lose the weight, give up custody of the daughter to her mother, and study to get a solid 50 on the formal ASVSB. She never did any. At the time, she was attending college. After graduating with a degree in Elementary School Education, she took the ASVAB for the Navy. After obtaining a college degree, the only thing she qualified for was infantry.
Elementary School Education? Ooooooh noooooo! This is a major flaw of our hiring processes.
Explains much about college today:
Is Hack implying that one must not be very smart to only qualify for infantry?
No, far from it, but the combat arms occupational fields had the lowest ASVAB scores to qualify. Some poeople believes that means ever 0311 has an AFQT of 31. Hack met quite a few Infantry guys that scored in the upper echelons across the ASVAB test fields, but they joined the Marine to do Marine Corps shit, like fucking up people and breaking shit.
As you all know, Hack was a Comm Puke. Now, to qualify for a seat in Comm Maintenance school, you do have to get some pretty good numbers on the ASVAB. That being said, the biggest idiots and dirtbags in the Marine Corps seem to be over represented among the 2800’s, especially at the Electronics Maintenance Companies (ELMACOs). When Hack was assigned to an ELMACO, there was always someone in the unit to fill the Brig Quota. Try doing that stupid shit in an Infantry unit, and the 1st Sergeant will calibrate that attitude pretty quick.
The Army Infantry had to have a 60 when I came in. The lowest score allowed qualified you to be a cook.
That helps to explain the quality of Army chow.
For us…..the lowest score allows you to be a Cook or Steward
No, what they said if she was commissioned as a Marine Corps, Bill would be banging all the wives in Officer’s Spouses Association before the first truck left the Motor Pool.
“Key Wives Club” -YUT!
Commissioned as a Marine Corps officer…
Wait… Hiliary is a woman?
Das Hildebeast quoted the USMC Recruiter as saying, “You’re too old you’re too short, and you can’t see, go down the block, maybe the Dogs (Army) will take you!”
What’s a woman?
WTF?
That was the same year I joined the Army and they required a birth certificate and matching ID.
Andy Kaufman lived a life so fake and phony for comedic relief that a lot of people believed he faked his own death and is still playing the long con somewhere. But he never claimed to be a Marine. This is something different.
He was also the Intergender Heavyweight Wrestling Champion of the world.
I bet he went in contract PFC. Was the platoon guide, 300 pft, high shooter at the range and ironed the Drill Instructors underwear. He graduated a Lance Coolie and his ASVAB had him designing top secret laser technology for the Corps.
Here’s the goals to reach when bragging about your length of service:
Ron Etzig – 16 days
Julee Johns – 16 days
Sam Samford – 19 days
John “Faker 6” Giduck – 58 days
Gunga Dan line – 111 days
Don’t forget ‘Iraqi war crimes witness’ Jesse McBeth – 43 days.
Roger. Got it. He was a little before my time, but his name is now added to the list. Thanx.
No ID? C’mon…really? Even in the Stone Age days of 1983, I went through a shit-ton of paperwork to enlist. Its not some movie like Stripes or Private Benjamín where the enlistment process takes 30 seconds. Katt does some funny shit, so it would be disappointing if he was lying. I know some of my memories are foggy, but I can remember basic very vividly. You don’t forget that shit.
I enlisted in 1987, the same year this guy theoretically did. I guarantee there was a metric shit-ton of paperwork and ID required (birth certificate, driver’s license and social security card) as well as a high school diploma. I’m calling bullshit.
Also you had to show you were registered for the draft as well. I remember the irony of trying to enlist and them wanting me registered for the draft.
I signed up for the Delayed Entry Program. I was a senior in high school, and I was 17. Six months later I turned 18 and then had signed up for Selective Service knowing I was going to boot camp in 3 months.
Hack never registered when he turned 18. He was already four months deep into the DEP, and shipping off about seven weeks after graduating. Four years later, Hack was in his second year stationed on Okinawa, and Poppa Stone forwarded a letter from Selective Service threatening jail if he did not register.
Yeah, I sure did. I’d forgotten about that.
I quit college and gave up the student deferement to
join and they still gave me a hard time.
Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth.
I had been in for around 4 years. My mom called and said selective service had called asking for me. She asked them what it was about. She then told them I was active duty Marine in Hawaii, they thanked her and were never heard from again.
Circa 1987, The DS’s all marched us into a classroom towards the end of basic and had us fill out our Selective Service registration cards.
They matched us somewhere too to register .I knew the drills would be so happy if I told them I had already registered and it was ok. I was so right, that was the second time they rewarded me for my conciseness by having me demonstrate proper push ups for the platoon.
I retired in 2012, 24 years active duty, and when I applied for a federal job, I STILL had to prove I registered.
Weird. I retired in 1994 after 20; only had to submit my DD-214 for a federal job.
They wanted that, too.
Same here, retired with 23, although contractor now. Every few years the SF-86 has be updated too. Luckily, the newer system keeps all that. Just need to make sure contacts and family info is still current. One of my younger sisters just got picked up with Navy Civ Service and had to do the whole thing for her clearance this past summer. Called me in tears about it. I had just gone though mine (renew), so I had a lot of info for her, BUT, not her hubby side. They were freaking about it, but I helped her through it. She has her clearance, and a decent job now. Is a total PITA for sure. Especially on the female side of both families, requiring new names, dates of divorce, that BS. That kinda weird information they require. oh well… And Yes, my registration always has to be verified. Even tho campaign medals and all that. Annnd, two Coveted NDSMs. (that makes me expert, no?) prolly no. Do know the system tho. And Sis got her shit, got her clearance, and has a cool job.
Just updated my clearance last week, surprisingly easy. Yeah, that first clearance can be a real pain. My first one after retirement wasn’t bad, but the little turd of an investigator was a prick.
My parents signed for me at 16.. delayed enlistment till I was 17. Never registered for the draft.
There was no requirement 50+ years ago to register for the draft, if you had served on active duty. I don’t recall all the details about it.
Maybe no requirement to register or re-register where you were, but in Indiana there was. The time was mid-February 1974. I had just finished up doing a three enlistment in the Army and went over to the county seat to get a new driver’s license. Before they would issue me that license, I had to attach a copy of my DD214 to a draft registration card and send it in. Subsequently, I got a card back in the mail saying I was classified as 1D(?) and have a nice day, don’t call us, we’ll call you. /s/
Jeez, he didn’t even try to do/fake it World War Ii-style– claim to be 17, forge Mom’s signature where required.
Worked for Calvin Graham in real life.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Graham
I knew two men that did that for the Korean conflict. One retired as a CW4, the other a CSM.
Lying worked for my grandfather who joined the army in 1936 aged 15 while claiming to be 17; he was 6’2″ so I guess that helped (mule skinner at Jefferson Barracks).
He lied about his age until he died; only then did we find out he was 2 years younger!
He got a battlefield commission at the Bulge and retired in 1952 as a captain.
Not bad for starting out as a 15 year-old private.
Wasn’t he the same guy that bitch slapped GySgt Hartman and took a jelly donut from him? And that’s the real reason there’s no record of his service?
It’s like he never existed, isn’t it? Just a fragment of his imaginations
Hey, he was standing up for Private Pyle!
Sorry…it’s all I’ve got to give for this lying mofo…
Made my day!
What proof did he have (with his name on it) that he either graduated from or completed 12th grade?
IIRC, education requirements were required and a 16 year old wouldn’t have achieved that
If Williams is referring to a ceremony (e.g., The Crucible), it didn’t exist in 1987. The Depot would have dropped his ass for fraudulent enlistment and sent him home way before graduation day.
Absent records and inconsistencies, my instinct tells me he’s lying out his ass.
From the comments from him above, he seems to be under the impression that 16 year olds could enlist. Nope. Minimum age when Hack was recruiting was 17 years old, provided that both parents signed Parental Consent. Hack got Poppa and Momma to sign a Parental Consent to allow Hack to enlist his senior year in High School. Delayed Entry enlistment on January 16, 1981. Four days later, the Iranians released the embassy hostages, because they knew Hack was coming to kick ass and sell Red Hat Software , and he was all out of Red Hat Software.
When I was in recruiting the Army had a split option for a 16 year old to join the Reserves so long as they were 17 when they reported to Basic the summer between Their junior and senior year. They would then go to AIT the following summer.
I had loads of respect for the guys that did it but when I was kid there was no way I would have given up the best two summers of my youth to do army stuff
We had Mt Mutherfucker back then. It was like Macho Grande only worse. After Mt Mutherfucker you did not get an EGA, you got yelled at.
I remember that thing. We were going up it and I looked off to the left side. Some DI was making his platoon do bends and thrusts facing downhill. They musta really have pissed him off to earn that.
Yep. That was after rifle qual week (Phase 2). After field week, it was back to MCRD (at least for San Diego) for final practical exams, drill, final PFT and prep from r graduation a few weeks later. Some in our platoon got smoked by the DIs up to graduation day. Fun times.
Greatest punishment was Private Spicolli, who bore a striking resemblance to Bowser from Sha Na Na. We were at the gas chamber. As soon as he exited the door, Sergeant Jones put him back in the line. He went through that door seven times that day.
It wasn’t Drill Sergeant Hand, was it?
You could not order pizzas in boot camp.
On the way down that mountain before retrograde back to San Diego, the Series was moving down the hill in long columns, and Recruit Skojolas was given a large rock (about 20″ in diameter, which the DI’s painted gold), and made him run up and down the hill carrying it – while yelling “There’s GOLD in them thar’ hills!” Not sure what he did to piss off the Senior DI, but we were all thinking how it must’ve sucked to be him at that moment.
A LITTLE suspect? You couldn’t even go to MEPS to DEP in without a birth certificate.
That 17-year old put that pimp down.
What a clown.
Now if he did go, why then doesn’t he name some of those in his Training platoon? A Proud Infidel®™ enlisted about 30 years ago and can still remember those he went to Basic & AIT with!
AS TO the ASVAB, A Proud Infidel®™ was a college meathead at the time, took it with a hangover and was afterward told by the Recruiter he scored high enough to have his choice of MOS at MEPS!
It just dawned on me that we have a foolproof way to root out fakers by asking the ago old question that there’s not a single person that can can fake, not even a Basic Training Washout or fraud or anything can bullshit this…if you know, YOU KNOW!!!
“What happened to you at MEPS?!?!?!?”
Hmmmmmmm
Everyone who has been there, every….one….knows the proper answer. There is no fudging it.
(Sorry, softball Dad joke!! 😀 )
I wil add to the chorus of “Oh, hell no!”‘s being sung.
I enlisted in the same timeframe and had to provide (in order of precedence):
1) Birth Cert
2) SSN Card
3) HS Diploma & transcript
4) DL
5) Selc Svc Reg Card
Hmm… I tried first to join the Marines in 1989 but I was JUST 16 and a high school dropout. So it was a big NO GO and then I went to the Army a few doors down one week from my 17th birthday. They allowed me to take an ASVAB practice test which I did well on. The rest, as they say, is history. One week after my 17th birthday I was shipped off to the Fort Benning school for boys. My point is. I’m not too old but about Katts age. I can remember excruciating details about my induction. I can even remember the name of my first DS. I find it hard to believe his story simply due to lack of detail so far provided in his story.
According to Wikipedia, no mention of military service for Katt…