Roy Wood Jr. Opens Up About His Father’s Double Life — And How It Shaped His Understanding of Love and Parenthood

It wasn’t your typical celebrity podcast appearance.

Comedian and actor Roy Wood Jr., known for his sharp wit and thoughtful humor, appeared on NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe’s hit podcast Club Shay Shay, and what unfolded was less a publicity chat and more a heartfelt therapy session broadcast to millions.

During the nearly two-hour conversation, Wood — a former Daily Show with Trevor Noah correspondent and one of the most respected satirists in modern comedy — opened up about his painful upbringing, his father’s double life, and the ways those experiences have shaped how he now loves and parents his son (The Hollywood Reporter).

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“He Was a Different Man in That Other House”

Wood, who has also appeared on Conan, SportsNation, and Comedy Central’s @midnight, is currently hosting CNN’s American adaptation of the British panel show Have I Got News for You, which premiered in fall 2024 (Variety). But this time, the punchlines gave way to real-life heartbreak.

When the topic turned to parents and love, Wood revealed that his father — a respected journalist and civil rights commentator — maintained two families, spending his nights with another woman and their children while leaving Roy and his mother behind.

“I had to call my two youngest brothers and talk to them about: ‘Hey, man, walk me through what pops was like at your crib,’” Wood said. “And they described a man I never met. I could look at the date of the picture and tell you whether or not the heat was on at our house.” (Club Shay Shay, Nov. 2025)

Wood’s voice cracked as he described his father being present for his brothers — attending games, helping with homework, sitting at the dinner table — experiences Roy never had. “My pops never did that,” he admitted quietly, while Sharpe nodded in empathy.

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Unpacking Trauma — In the Delivery Room

The emotional weight of the interview deepened when Wood described how becoming a father forced him to confront his own childhood pain in real time.

“Imagine being 38 in a delivery room unpacking that s*** while holding your newborn,” he said. “I never had to consider showing love before, because I didn’t have a kid. Now I do — and I don’t want to pass that pain on.”

He explained that while he never witnessed healthy romantic love at home, he was determined to build something better for his son. “I didn’t see a father showing love — not to me, not to my mom,” he told Sharpe. “But I saw glimpses of it in my uncles and aunts. That became my blueprint.”

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The Other Woman — and the Final Betrayal

In perhaps the most shocking revelation, Wood disclosed that his father was buried beside his mistress, not his mother.

“Got his and hers plots,” he said. “We didn’t even know until we were carrying the casket up the hill. That’s love. You can be mad or sad, but it’s the truth.”

Wood didn’t share the story out of resentment, but reflection. “If nothing else,” he added, “it gives me the blueprint of what I should want out of a woman and a relationship. That woman loved him, and he loved her — and that’s the kind of love I want to give my child.”

Rolling Stone noted that Wood’s willingness to turn pain into perspective mirrors the tone of his stand-up, which often explores family, race, and forgiveness through humor and honesty.

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“Give Me Your Time — Not Your Name”

As the discussion continued, Wood acknowledged his father’s legacy as a pioneering radio journalist and civil rights advocate — but said he would’ve traded the name for attention.

“Shannon pointed out that your dad gave you his name,” the host said.
“Yeah,” Wood replied. “But give me your time. F*** your name.”

Wood admitted he avoids social media on Father’s Day and other anniversaries because his younger brothers often post old photos with their dad — reminders of the love he missed. “I follow them, love them to death,” he said. “But seeing those old Polaroids with him? That’s tough. I could look at the date and know whether we had heat or not.”

According to NPR, Wood’s story resonates deeply with listeners because it captures a universal pain of parental absence — particularly among Black families where generational trauma and silence often replace open emotional dialogue.

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Finding Healing Through Storytelling

Wood said that despite the pain, his father’s choices taught him valuable lessons about empathy and emotional honesty — lessons he’s now passing to his son. “Somebody has to lose in situations like that,” he said. “It was me. But I took that loss and flipped it — I used it to learn how to love right.”

He also revealed that much of his story will be explored in his upcoming memoir, The Man of Many Fathers, which delves into his family history and how his father’s contradictions fueled his comedy.

Outside of stand-up, Wood is also a lifelong baseball fan. He grew up playing Little League in Birmingham at Rickwood Field, the oldest professional baseball park in America, now a symbol of Black athletic history. His new podcast, Road to Rickwood, explores how the field mirrors the Civil Rights Movement’s struggles and triumphs (The Guardian).

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A Legacy of Resilience

Following the emotional episode, fans flooded social media with praise and empathy.

“There’s never an excuse to abandon your son, no matter how you feel about the mother,” one user wrote. Another added, “Roy spoke truth. You can tell he’s healed enough to understand every side.”

As Essence summarized, Wood’s story “isn’t just about fatherhood — it’s about generational repair. It’s the courage to break a cycle.”

For Roy Wood Jr., healing means confronting the past head-on — not to erase it, but to rewrite it for the next generation.

“He was damaged,” Wood reflected. “He sought comfort through women and sex. But I’ve learned comfort can come from being present — from loving your kid right. That’s the legacy I’m building now.”

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Roy Wood Jr. continues to balance his stand-up, television career, and family life with humor and grace — proof that sometimes, laughter isn’t an escape, but a form of healing.