Hasan Minhaj on Why He Didn’t Change His Name for Comedy

Hasan Minhaj on Why He Didn’t Change His Name for Comedy

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When Hasan Minhaj first started doing comedy, people told him he was going to have to change his name. “It just reminded me of being in Miss Leddington’s class in first grade,” he told Vulture in our Emmys lounge. “Just call me whatever you want to call me.” The breakthrough moment came on Ellen, when Minhaj broke down how to pronounce his name, Tee-mo-tay Shall-oh-may. Now was that so hard? “If I could take a stab at navigating having a public image on my own terms,” he said, “this could be a good start.”

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Hasan Minhaj on Why He Didn’t Change His Name for Comedy