Lisa Lampanelli, 57, talks about being fired from Despicable Me 3 then replaced by Jenny Slate, 37, while attending the 2019 Webby Awards
She is instantly recognizable for her brand of racy insult-based stand-up comedy.
But that prestige doesn't seem to have helped Lisa Lampanelli hold on to a role in the massively successful animated comedy Despicable Me 3.
The 57-year-old comic revealed Monday at The Webby Awards in New York City that she was fired from the family film and replaced by actress Jenny Slate, 37, according to Us Weekly.
Replaced: Lisa Lampanelli, 57, revealed Monday at the Webby Awards in NYC that she was fired from the 2017 animated hit Despicable Me 3 and replaced by former SNL star Jenny Slate, according to Us Weekly
She made it: Slate was also seen at the Webby Awards wearing a pretty summer dress
Slate, best known for her short stint on Saturday Night Live and a plethora of voice acting roles, was credited with the role of Valerie Da Vinci, but she wasn't the original choice for the part.
'I got fired off Despicable Me 3 as the voice of Valerie, and Jenny Slate got the job,' Lisa said from the red carpet. 'Joke’s on her — I got paid anyway!
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'She had to do the work. I love you, Jenny! Thank you for earning me some money! Isn’t that amazing?'
There doesn't seem to be an rivalry between the two comediennes, though.
'I’m definitely excited to see Jenny Slate,' said Lisa's niece, who accompanied her to the Webbys. 'We just got a glimpse of her.'
Win–win: 'Joke’s on her — I got paid anyway! She had to do the work. I love you, Jenny! Thank you for earning me some money! Isn’t that amazing?' joked the former stand-up comedian; pictured Monday
No hard feelings: There wasn't any bad blood between the two comic figures, as Lisa's niece was looking forward to capturing a glimpse of Jenny at the award show; shown Monday
Despite her ubiquity in the comedy scene, the Celebrity Apprentice contestant announced last year that she was retiring from stand-up, during an October 2018 appearance on The Howard Stern Show.
'I’m fully done with comedy, but I’m doing life coaching and workshops,' she said, adding, 'I may be announcing something in a similar vein to what’s being honored [at the Webby Awards] in the next couple of weeks. Hint f’n hint. I’m sure that’s very, very vague for me.'
The former insult comic went on to say she'd be 'recording next week' and that she was 'really, really excited' for her upcoming content.
All laughs: A scene still from Despicable Me 2 which came out in 2013
Her new interest in life coaching seems to be a major inspiration for her forthcoming mystery project.
'The only reason I want to do any broadcasting at all is because I love coaching people and helping them kind of change their lives and careers like I did,' she said.
'I was like, ‘Oh, this will be cute and will kind of go to the masses.’ So, cross your fingers and hopefully it’ll work out.'
This won't be the first time she's strayed from comedy. The celebrity roast extraordinaire wrote and starred in the off-Broadway play Stuffed in 2017, which delved into her decades of binge eating and yo-yo dieting before she had gastric sleeve surgery in 2012.
Upcoming: Following her retirement from stand-up comedy late last year, the former Celebrity Apprentice star is looking to start a cryptic new venture; shown in October
