Since emerging on the comedy scene many years ago, comedian Rob Schneider has become a household name, typically associated with a raunchy and absurdist brand of humor, from “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo” to “Hot Chick.”
However, since converting to Catholicism, an announcement he made on his 60th birthday in October, Schneider says he feels called to leave behind the type of comedy he’s performed in the past, and he doesn’t care what Hollywood thinks about the decision. He told The Christian Post, “I know I can’t do the same stuff I used to do. Not because I have anything against what I did; I did what I did, and I felt fine about it at the time. I’m not going to judge myself. But I won’t do the same stuff I’ve done. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I want to come to it from a place of faith, a place of something good in my heart.”
Schneider added, “I don’t know if I can tell dirty jokes anymore. I don’t know if I can. I don’t know if I’m going to. I have an act I’m doing now; I don’t know if I’ll do it again next year. Just some of the bad words, I go, ‘Maybe I don’t want to say those words anymore.’ I don’t know. I also think it’s important to not only talk to the converted but to bring people in, and the best form is to show by example. People talk all the time; that doesn’t mean anything. So I hope that me standing up for what I believe in — God, family country — I’m OK with whatever comes my way, positive or negative. When you have faith, nothing can really rock you.”
In an October 31st announcement on X, the comedian said he converted to Catholicism. His post read, “I am the luckiest man in the world,” and featured a shoutout to his wife, Patricia, and their three daughters, Elle, Miranda, and Madeleine. He concluded his post by saying, “At last, forgiveness itself is the gift we give ourselves because it frees us as Christ intends for all of us to be free. For His gift of ultimate and unlimited forgiveness is indeed the gift for all humanity.” Schneider acknowledged that his newfound faith might come at a cost when it comes to his Hollywood career, but it’s a risk he’s willing to take.
He told The Christian Post, “I don’t feel a part of Hollywood. I don’t feel any obligation to Hollywood whatsoever. I don’t feel like I’m from Hollywood. I’m just an actor and made my living for a long time there. I feel no sense of loyalty or disloyalty to Hollywood. Let them do whatever they want. I don’t feel the same fear that they feel.
“I’m not speaking for all of Hollywood, but what I noticed is that there’s a fearfulness to speak the truth and to talk about what people believe in and what they want,” he continued. “I think a lot of it is self-motivated and protecting themselves. You’re always going to be missing something if you’re led by fear.”