‘Ma, are you crazy?’: Helen Zille’s sons react to Showmax Roast

DA leader Helen Zille admitted she had no idea what a comedy roast was when she was first approached about becoming the next celebrity to be roasted on Showmax.

“When I told my sons, they said, ‘Ma, do you even know what a Roast is?’ And I had to admit, ‘No, I don’t. What is it?’ They were like, ‘Ma, are you crazy? You’re putting yourself out there for a toasting! You’re going to be chewed up.’ I said, ‘That’s fine. I get chewed up every day,” said Zille, narrating how her two sons took the news of her being roasted.

The Showmax Roast of Helen Zille premieres this Friday on Showmax, and Zille spoke to the media about participating in the show, which is premised on a celebrity being made fun of by other celebrities.

In 2024, media personality Minnie Dlamini was roasted.

Zille’s roast featured former Comics Choice Comic of the Year Loyiso Gola, media personalities Bongani Bingwa, JJ Tabane and Rian van Heerden, reality TV stars Londie London and Mel Viljoen.

Zille admits that when Showmax approached her about the roast, she thought she was invited for lunch. “They said, “Do you want to do a Roast?” and I thought, “That’s like a Sunday lunch – sure!”

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Zille not taking herself too seriously

The controversial politician said she took part because she wanted to show her grandchildren that she could have fun and not take herself too seriously.

“I have this image of being such a fierce and terrible person — someone unable to take a joke – and of course, that’s not true. I’d like them [grandkids] to know a bit more about the real me, all the different sides. Especially the fact that we need to be able to laugh at ourselves.”

Speaking about some of the celebrities who participated in the roast, Zille said she found them interesting and that they are “good at what they do.”

However, she is honest about not knowing the reality TV personalities London and Viljoen.

“The only people I have no clue about are The Real Housewives – Mel Viljoen and Londie London. I don’t know if they’re from Desperate Housewives or The Real Housewives,” said Zille.

“I know nothing about that world, so that’ll be new for me. But the rest I know, and I think they’ll handle this kind of exchange well.”

The Showmax Roast of Helen Zille was part of the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival at the Sandton Convention Centre in early May.

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