Comedian Howie Mandel has issued a public apology after an uncomfortable stunt on his podcast left Bill Burrvisibly upset. The incident occurred during the Jan. 21 episode of Howie Mandel Does Stuff, where Mandel ambushed Burr with a surprise appearance from Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan—a move that backfired almost instantly.
Bill Burr’s Uncomfortable Reaction
The situation stemmed from a bizarre rumor that Corgan and Burr might be half-brothers, an idea that originated from Corgan’s own stepmother. According to Corgan, his stepmother once speculated that Burr resembled Corgan’s father more than Corgan himself.
Corgan previously recounted the story on Mandel’s podcast in November 2024, joking that Burr “might be one of the children that [his father] sired in his days as a traveling musician.” While the claim was never taken seriously, Mandel saw an opportunity to stage an unexpected reunion between the two.
When Mandel surprised Burr with Corgan’s presence, the comedian’s reaction was far from amused. Burr was visibly uncomfortable, calling Mandel “an ahole”** and asking if the segment could be removed.
“Did you ever think that maybe I never told that story because I didn’t want it out there?” Burr said during the podcast. “It’s not that I don’t like [Corgan], it just reminds me of all that st.”**
Corgan, on the other hand, appeared caught off guard by Burr’s reaction. He initially thought Burr would find the surprise funny but later acknowledged that the moment did not land well.
Howie Mandel’s Public Apology
After the backlash, Mandel admitted fault and apologized on the Feb. 4 episode of his podcast.
“I want to apologize. I feel horrible, and I’m sorry, Bill. I’m sorry, Billy. I only tried to do something good,” Mandel said.
“I legitimately thought I was doing something nice, I swear to you. I thought it was funny,” he added.
Mandel also revealed that Burr has been ignoring his messages ever since the episode aired.
“I texted him and said, ‘Good episode.’ Didn’t answer. I said, ‘Is there anything I can do to follow up?’ No answer,” Mandel shared. “The truth of the matter is, if he feels bad, I feel bad.”
Bill Burr Calls Mandel ‘A Strange Man’
While Burr has clarified that he has no issue with Corgan, he remains frustrated with Mandel for orchestrating the surprise.
“Billy’s fine. That’s the first time I ever met him, and it was fine or whatever,” Burr said in a later interview. “But I did not appreciate what Howie did. Not at all.”
Although upset, Burr stopped short of completely condemning Mandel.
“He’s Howie, so he’s sorta hard to hate. How do you hate a germaphobe? He’s like, not threatening,” Burr said, adding, “He just walks with his arms in so he doesn’t rub against curtains that he owns. He’s a strange man.”
As of now, Burr has not publicly accepted Mandel’s apology, leaving the rift between the two comedians unresolved.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.