Buffalo Wild Wings & Comedy Central review relationships with Steve Rannazzisi over 9/11 lie
Comedian Steve Rannazzisi, who stars as Kevin in The League, has admitted that he made up a story about escaping from Merrill Lynch’s offices on the 54th floor of the south tower during the World Trade Center attacks on 11 September 2001 promoting brands to review their relationships with him.
Rannazzisi, who stars in Buffalo Wild Wings commercials and has a one-hour special this weekend on Comedy Central, sent out a series of tweets this morning apologizing for his “inexcusable” lie and asking for forgiveness.
The apologies came after the New York Times confronted him with evidence earlier this week that proved his account false. He had actually been working in Midtown Manhattan that day and Merrill Lynch has no record of his employment – and had no offices in either tower.
Comedy Central and Buffalo Wild Wings are currently debating whether or not to continue their relationships with the star.
In a statement, Comedy Central said: "We just learned about this last night. We are very disappointed to hear about Steve's misrepresentations and are currently determining how we will move forward."
Buffalo Wild Wings said: “We are disappointed to learn of Steve’s misrepresentations regarding the events of September 11, 2001. We are currently re-evaluating our relationship with Steve pending a review of all the facts.”
The comedian has referred to the fictional story a number of times throughout his career and has said that it is the reason he decided to leave New York and move to Los Angeles to try and become an entertainer.
During an interview in 2009 with Marc Maron, host of WTF podcast, he said: “I was there and then the first tower got hit and we were like jostled all over the place. I still have dreams of like, you know, those falling dreams?”
See some of his tweets below:
As a young man, I made a mistake that I deeply regret and for which apologies may still not be enough.
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015
it is to the victims of 9/11 and to the people that love them--and the people that love me--that I ask for forgiveness.
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015