‘Orange Grease Onstage’: Margaret Cho Recalls Extreme Weight-Loss Drug Side Effects

While the audience roared with laughter, Margaret Cho was facing a silent, messy nightmare. The veteran comedian recently opened up about a graphic onstage accident caused by weight-loss drugs during the early 2000s. Speaking on the How to Fail With Elizabeth Day podcast, Cho shared a raw and visceral account of how her quest for thinness led to a literal disaster in front of a live crowd.

The Perils of Margaret Cho Weight-Loss Drug Side Effects

The incident occurred when Cho began taking medications designed to block fat absorption from food. According to Entertainment Weekly, Cho was wearing an all-white outfit during a high-stakes performance when the side effects kicked in. She described the discharge as "orange grease" that she could not control, likening it to the oil blotted off a pepperoni pizza. Despite the physical crisis, she managed to finish the show, even as the situation worsened.

From Standing Ovation to a Brand New Car

In a cruel irony, the set was a massive success. Cho received a standing ovation, but she had to back out of view through the curtains to hide the stains. The trauma continued even after leaving the venue. Cho recalled crying and feeling disgusted as she drove away, knowing the orange oil was soaking into her fabric car seats. The damage was so extensive that she ultimately had to replace her car entirely. "I was also laughing because this is like really funny, too, but it's horrible," she admitted during the podcast.