Richard Pryor's Son Walks Off Stage Amid Big Boos At Apollo Theater

Ron Dicker
Updated

Richard Pryor’s youngest son said he could hear his father up in heaven telling him, “Boy you better not mess this up!”

Maybe next time, Dad.

Mason Pryor acknowledged he “bombed” during his standup comedy routine on Fox’s “Showtime at the Apollo” recently. (Watch it above.)

A flat routine about President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin generated a torrent of boos. The 30-year-old comic told the crowd to “have some respect,” and he walked off mid-set.

“I bombed when I shouldn’t have,” he said backstage. “I wasn’t funny.”

Host Steve Harvey, a standup pro, encouraged Pryor to return to the stage for some type of closure on Thursday’s show. Pryor took the advice and did, with a quick hit on the split between his dad and mother, Geraldine Mason, that got some laughs.

But boos erupted again, Harvey explained on his iHeartRadio show. According to the host, Pryor told a woman in the audience in his return to the stage, “Shut up, B,” and later picked up and dry-humped the tree stump that performers traditionally rub for luck ― and nearly dropped it.

Despite the rough night, Pryor received some encouragement from fans on Facebook after what he called his first big-time gig. He told TMZ that it was a learning experience and that he would take the advice of fellow comics and streamline his material next time.

This article has been updated to include Harvey’s radio show comments revealing additional details of Pryor’s antics.

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Richard Pryor and Shelley Bonis married in 1967. They divorced a few years later.
Richard Pryor and Shelley Bonis married in 1967. They divorced a few years later.
Richard and Shelley had a daughter, Rain, in 1969.
Richard and Shelley had a daughter, Rain, in 1969.
Growing up in an interracial family in the 1970s was difficult for Rain, she says. "What was ironic is to then be in this house in Beverly Hills and having crosses burned on our front lawn in the middle of the night."
Growing up in an interracial family in the 1970s was difficult for Rain, she says. "What was ironic is to then be in this house in Beverly Hills and having crosses burned on our front lawn in the middle of the night."
Rain followed her father into the entertainment industry, becoming an actress. Here, they attend a movie premiere together for one of Richard's films in 1989.
Rain followed her father into the entertainment industry, becoming an actress. Here, they attend a movie premiere together for one of Richard's films in 1989.
Richard and Rain guest starred together on "Chicago Hope" in 1995.
Richard and Rain guest starred together on "Chicago Hope" in 1995.
In 2000, Richard accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Rain was by his side, as was his wife Jennifer.
In 2000, Richard accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Rain was by his side, as was his wife Jennifer.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.