Controversy Between George López and Ralph Barbosa Explained

Ralph Barbosa takes a picture with comedy show attendees at the Laugh Factory. Photo Credits: Benny Garcia (Instagram)

While performing at the Improv, rising new comedian Ralph Barbosa joked about how marijuana has calmed him out. 

“The other day a little fire started in my kitchen, and instead of getting on it and getting water on it, I kind of just came to terms with it,” said Barbosa. “I was like, ‘sometimes people die man.’”  

Perhaps it is that mellow attitude that is getting the 26-year-old Texan comedian through a moment of tension with fellow Mexican-American comedian, George Lopez. 

Lopez, who is considered a pioneer for Latino comedians, seemed to mock Barbosa on an episode of his podcast, “OMG Hi.” When guest of the podcast and fellow Latino comedian Steve Treviño suggested to Lopez that Mexican comedians should help other Mexican comedians like Barbosa, Lopez rejected the notion. 

“But nobody knows who that motherfucker is, why are you saying his name?...You shouldn’t look out for anybody else, especially Jeremy Barbasol,” said Lopez as he mocked Barbosa by mispronouncing his name.  

George López at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. Photo Credits: Flickr

Lopez’ comments have created a rift within the Latino comedy culture by bringing to the forefront the question of whether Latino comedians have a duty to help one another. Some online Latino content creators have gone as far as to call Lopez a fake Mexican. Instagram Latino advocate @EnamoradoAlex_ has even called him “a cancer to our gente.” 

Lopez had previously been accused of refusing to work with other Latino comedians. While on the “Geto Boys reloaded” podcast, Latino comedian Juan Villareal claimed Lopez refused to work with him on a comedy tour called “Black and Brown.”

Although they are both facing this situation, Barbosa and Lopez are seeing different results from it. 

Due to the overwhelming comments bashing Lopez and supporting Barbosa, Lopez removed the comments from much of his social media and subsequently called Barbosa to apologize. 

Coming off of doing “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” Barbosa leveraged the situation by appearing on popular podcasts, being covered by major publications and overall gaining more name recognition.   

Barbosa has not expressed anger toward Lopez about the comments. Like the fire in his kitchen, Barbosa “just came to terms with it.” In fact, in response to Lopez’ comments, Barbosa took to Instagram to draft a simple response: “It’s all good baby. The future is now old man.”