Laughing Out Loud, Scary Spice And Thirst Traps – Meet Andy Procopis
Australia has produced a swag of amazing LGBTQIA+ standup comedians, and the latest is Andy Procopis in his current show, Fantastic Maximum Big Boy #1. He spoke with DNA…
Do you realise that before you’ve even uttered a word, you’ve broken a golden rule of comedy: comedians are not supposed to be sexy. Please explain!
Who says comedians can’t be sexy? Somewhere, Tommy Little is sobbing into his Taskmaster money. Honestly, part of the reason I look like this is because I’m lactose and wheat intolerant. So while I might seem funny and sexy, I can be taken out by a LeSnak.
How would you describe your style of comedy?
When I first started performing, I was all about tightly written, rapid-fire jokes — one setup, one punchline, every ten seconds. But over time, I’ve gotten more comfortable and started leaning into storytelling. I still love a sharp joke, but I have a lot more fun on stage now, especially without the pressure of being word-perfect.
You make yourself quite vulnerable in your shows, revealing a lot of personal details. How does that feel in front of a room full of strangers?
I package up vulnerability in my comedy and in my weekly Substack, The Andy Procopis Show, because I spent too long carrying things alone, and I don’t want others to do the same. The stuff I write and talk about — external validation, body image, gay shame — it’s personal, sure, but it’s not unique. Imperfections are universal. It’s how strangers connect instantly. Well, that and Grindr.
You’ve mentioned in some of your material that your brother was a major influence on your early life. Can you explain that further?
Growing up, my older brother Danny and I were very different. He was athletic, academic, and voted school captain. I was… not that. It was very Marcia vs Jan Brady.
But in a weird way, he still inspired me. Watching him thrive in his lane made me want to figure out what mine was. I didn’t want to compete with him — I knew I’d lose — but I wanted to find something that felt like mine.
What’s your connection to Scary Spice?
When I was 13, I dressed as Scary in a Spice Girl look-alike competition for the chance to meet them at the Australian premiere of Spice World: The Movie. Even though I was the only boy who entered… I didn’t win.
Which was easier: coming out as gay or coming out as a comedian?
Both were pretty easy. I’m lucky I’ve got a really supportive family. Although I did lose some loved ones when I came out as a CrossFitter.
There are a lot of out queer comedians – who inspired you?
Reuben Kaye is a big one. He creates comedy with a message — it’s sharp, political, and somehow still incredibly heartfelt. Watching him made me realise you could say something important and still make people howl laughing.
Jay Jurden, too. He’s a New York-based comedian — funny as hell, razor-sharp, and clearly hustles. He’s everywhere: touring, on podcasts, posting clips daily. He’s so consistent and always crushes. I cannot wait for him to come to Australia.
And I have to mention John Glover. He was one of the first people to give me a sense of belonging on the Sydney comedy scene. He’s the best improviser I know, and now he has cute frosted tips.
The stand-up comedy circuit was once quite homophobic. How has your experience been?
My experience has been mostly positive, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe from slipping backwards. Comedy reflects the culture it comes from, and right now, the culture is pretty divided.
That’s why I think it’s more important than ever to have queer voices in comedy rooms — not just as tokens, but as storytellers. And for me, I want those stories to be inclusive. I’m a gay man. My comedy is through a gay lens, but I never want it to be alienating. I want to bring people in, not push them away.
There’s a story I love about Jamie Foxx. He used to test his “black” material in white rooms and “white” material in black rooms. Whatever got the biggest laughs stayed in. That’s how he built an hour that was universally funny, not by flattening who he was or pandering to the crowd, but by finding the crossover points.
In your show, Fantastic Maximum Big Boy #1, you talk about something that a lot of LGBTQIA+ people struggle with: other people’s expectations and judgments. So there’s a mental health aspect to your show as well, right?
Definitely. I think growing up gay, you get really good at performing — not on stage, but in life. You learn to code-switch, shape-shift, and do whatever it takes to be accepted. And even once you come out, that people-pleasing can stick around.
So Fantastic Maximum Big Boy #1 is about peeling back some of that. I joke that the show is about giving up the need for external validation… while standing in a spotlight, asking an audience to clap for me.
How important is the gym to you, and why?
The gym has been a huge part of my life for over 20 years. Originally, it was about bodybuilding. I was a skinny kid, teased a lot, and I thought if I could just put on muscle, I’d finally be accepted. But over time, it evolved into something much healthier. Now it’s about structure, discipline and looking after mental health as much as physical health.
That said, I’ve definitely had to untangle my self-worth from my appearance. There was a time when how I looked was way too connected to how I felt about myself. As I get older, I’m learning how to let go of this, because no amount of training will stop the natural process of ageing.
The DNA interview usually involves asking people what they prefer to wear at the beach — we’re guessing you’re a speedo boy.
Are you guessing… or have you been doing some “research” on my Instagram? Because there are definitely a few clues there.
And who is your celebrity crush?
Only one crush? BOO monogamy! My friends and I play a game called Who’s In Your Tarago? — named after the old Toyota people mover. You get eight seats for your ultimate celebrity crushes. I barely manage to keep it at eight, but if I have to choose just one? Definitely, Zane Phillips.
Who comes to see your shows? Is it people who love comedy… and your Insta thirst traps?
Everyone is welcome, but honestly, an hour is a long time to sit through bad comedy, no matter how many shirtless pics you’ve liked. So if people are laughing and sticking around, I must be doing something right.
For tickets to see Andy in Fantastic Maximum Big Boy #1, head to Humanitix
