Ali Wong has a very impressive fan in his corner.
Michelle Obama not only praised Wong as one of her “favorite comedians” on Instagram last month, but also did her best to send Wong a fan letter.
“He actually reached out to me a few years ago and sent me a letter like a handwritten letter, and it was framed at my home,” 40-year-old Wong told Kelly Clarkson on Thursday. The Kelly Clarkson Show.
“She wrote to me how impressed she was by talking about women’s bodies and what happens to our bodies, and also making us laugh. And she said, ‘I think that’s really important.'”
“Her heso it means the world to me,” Wong added, backing the former First Lady.
Kayla Oaddams/WireImage; NAACP via Getty Images
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This Steak While the star hasn’t yet met the 59-year-old Obama, she said she hopes her upcoming tour – a 34-show run that begins April 23 in Nashville – will eventually see the two connect in person.
“Before COVID, he was ready to come to one of my shows in DC and I think he bought 25 seats – I’m sure half of them were for the secret service, but whatever!” Wong joked. “They paid for the tickets, so I’m grateful.”
“Hopefully it comes to my program in DC this summer,” he said of Obama.
At the end of March, Obama highlighted Wong as “one of my favorite comedians” in a recent social media post linked to Women’s History Month and featuring a story from her latest book. The Light We Carry.
Wong told Clarkson, 40, that it “feels great” to be recognized by the former First Lady, whose long-time homage to the comedian has described her as an inspiration to everyone.
“Ali is a tough, truth-telling talent that first caught my attention when he did a stand-up show in 2016. Baby Cobra Throughout the special, seven-and-a-half months pregnant takes the stage in a body-hugging dress and red horn-rimmed glasses, appearing supremely and almost defiantly female, a sultry, forbidden monologue about everything from no-race to motherhood.”
“She manages to be violent and real at the same time. She shows us her whole self for gripping effect,” Obama continued. “What Ali reminds us is how important it is to remember that our differences are treasures and tools.”
“And while it’s not always easy, we must emerge as our true selves every day. Thanks for showing us that, Ali.”
Wong was busy promoting his newest project, Netflix, before embarking on his nationwide tour this summer. Steak.
He and Steven Yeun play two second-in-command strangers in the tragic drama who meet during a road fight – but soon find their lives intertwined. Unable to leave their vehicles when they come face to face, the rivals try every way to harm each other and to satisfy their desire for revenge.
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Yeun, 39, praised Wong for her performance in the drama and told PEOPLE this week that she helped lighten some heavy moments while filming the dark comedy show.
“She’s a great co-star because she has a lot of weight,” she said at the show’s Los Angeles premiere. “He’s someone who knows how to keep a lot of good feelings and a lot of unseen, and I deeply appreciate that trait about him.”
Steak is now streaming on Netflix.