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Comedian Michelle Wolf Is Standing Her Ground After Controversial Routine At D.C. Gala

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

The comedian Michelle Wolf is standing by her controversial performance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

MICHELLE WOLF: I wouldn't change a single word that I said. I'm very happy with what I said. And I'm glad I stuck to my gun.

CORNISH: That's from a new interview with WHYY's Fresh Air that airs tomorrow.

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

Wolf's monologue on Saturday night drew an immediate backlash - much of the criticism focusing on her roast of White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

WOLF: I actually really like Sarah. I think she's very resourceful. Like she burns facts, and then she uses that ash to create a perfect smoky eye.

KELLY: Wolf and Fresh Air's Terry Gross discussed why the barbs may have come as a surprise.

TERRY GROSS, BYLINE: You said - and I quote - "you should have done more research before you got me to do this." I got the impression you really meant that.

WOLF: I think sometimes they look at a woman, and they think, oh, she'll be nice. And if you've seen any of my comedy, you know that I don't - I'm not (laughter) - I don't pull punches. I'm not afraid to talk about things. And, you know, I don't think they expected that from me. I think they still have preconceived notions of how women will present themselves. And I don't fit in that box.

CORNISH: President Trump skipped the White House Correspondents' Dinner for the second year in a row. But he's had plenty to say about it on Twitter. This morning, he wrote the dinner is, quote, "dead as we know it." Yesterday, he called Michelle Wolf filthy.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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