Austin Muigai recently revealed a surprising truth about his popular skits—the slaps you see are not staged, they’re real! The comedian shared this revelation during an appearance on the Miccheque Podcast, leaving both the hosts and listeners in shock.
The episode began with the usual fan questions, but this time, one comment stood out, pointing out the signature slaps that often appear in Austin’s skits. Without skipping a beat, Austin revealed, “By the way, do you know those slaps are real?” His statement caught the attention of the hosts, who were left in disbelief. Surely, they thought, there had to be some trick to avoid such painful slaps. But Austin was firm in his explanation.
He made it clear that real slaps are essential for the authenticity of his content. “We have to pay rent, and we’ll do anything. When you get a real slap, it brings a real reaction, and that’s exactly what we want,” Austin explained. According to him, there’s no substitute for the genuine reaction a real slap creates. He believes staged slaps are just not the same—they simply don’t carry the same energy or authenticity.
The real challenge, Austin noted, comes when it’s time to shoot. In the event of a mistake, retakes are necessary, meaning he could be slapped again, with each slap needing to be as perfect as the first. While this might sound like a nightmare to many, Austin has found a way to manage the chaos of shooting days. Since he writes his own skits, he has the luxury of scheduling the slap scenes for specific days.
“I make sure Wednesdays are the only days I get slapped, so I can mentally prepare,” he said with a laugh. This thoughtful planning allows him to prepare himself for the physical toll of the slaps while also managing the demands of his busy production schedule. To further minimize the number of slaps he endures, Austin’s team aims to get everything right in one take.
Despite his preparation and planning, the hosts remained perplexed by how anyone could voluntarily subject themselves to such “torture.” Austin, however, has a lighthearted perspective on the situation, joking that his resistance to slaps is something he’s built up over the years. He recalled how, back in high school, it wasn’t uncommon to be suddenly slapped in class by a teacher, often without warning. “You’d be found sleeping in class, and a teacher would just show up and hit your head out of nowhere,” he laughed.
The hosts were both impressed and sympathetic after hearing the story. They couldn’t help but honor the comedian’s commitment to his craft, which led them to toast to Austin’s resilience with a round of shots. It was a light-hearted gesture to acknowledge all the slaps he’s endured in the name of comedy—and the many more he will undoubtedly take for future skits.
