The Virginia Theatre held An Evening with Fran Lebowitz on Friday, an event of pure comedic judgmental thinking. Lebowitz has been a writer, commentator and humorist for decades, sharing her unadulterated opinions and thoughts about everything under the sun.
The 2025 CU Pride Fest held the event, as Lebowitz has been a lesbian icon ever since she stepped into the literary scene. Local business Jane Addams Book Shop also sponsored the event, providing Lebowitz’s book, “The Fran Lebowitz Reader,” for a book signing event. After the show, the line to see her was so long that it ran out of multiple doors of the theatre.
The show set up the first 30 minutes by putting Lebowitz in conversation with the night’s host, Amy Penne. They discussed everything from Martin Scorsese’s filmmaking, the New York City mayoral election and what annoys her about the Midwest.
Following that segment was a call and response with the audience, where Penne encouraged the audience to speak to her directly. As per Lebowitz’s request, no microphone was provided for the audience members, and they had to speak loudly enough for her to hear — she is 75.
After the first question, Lebowitz proclaimed that her opinions have never changed, and if she says something once, she’d say it again.
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“I especially liked it when she said she hasn’t changed her opinion ever because she is always right,” said Danette Holmes, Champaign County resident.
Fans find Lebowitz to have a special and charming way of being overwhelmingly negative and combative, but hilarious at the same time. She presents herself as so steadfast and secure within herself that even with her black-and-white views, people still come out to hear her speak.
“I think everyone needs someone like Fran Lebowitz in their life,” said Amy Kennely, St. Louis, Missouri, resident who drove to Champaign to see Lebowitz. “She’s so witty — she’s so smart. I’m almost getting teary-eyed, but the way that the country is now, you can just sit here and forget about what’s happening for a little bit.”
During an early moment in the event, Lebowitz self-described herself as being “the opposite of open-minded” and so judgmental that she wanted very badly to be on the Supreme Court when she was a child. She immediately followed that by saying the current Supreme Court justices are disgraceful, and she would never step foot into that White House courtroom with a gavel.
Because she has a strong opinion on just about everything, many people from the audience asked questions about American politics and what Lebowitz thought of politicians in office at the moment. She delved deep into her thoughts about the current political state of America, stating comical, almost outlandish quips.
She regarded the audience very seriously and said she believed Donald Trump, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush genuinely could not read. The audience erupted in laughter.
“I think she’s a humorist at the level of any stand-up comedian because she tells great stories and makes everything she says funny,” Holmes said.
Although Lebowitz made the audience laugh, some audience members still pondered more deeply about what she had to say. She hit many hot topics like political incompetence and gun violence, but most topically, immigration within America.
“I don’t care that there are people who have come here to escape hardship, and they have not finished the process of becoming legal,” said Melanie Magara, Champaign County resident. “This does not affect me. I think the cruelty of what is going on right now really disturbs me.”
Lebowitz is unafraid to speak her mind on any topic. She has been spewing it off the dome for decades, and even if something is controversial, she will give two middle fingers up to anyone who challenges her.
To sum up the sardonic nature of Lebowitz and the tone of the night, an audience member asked her what gave her hope, if anything. “If I think of it, I’ll call you,” Lebowitz replied.
