Meet Obama's anger translator
He's a self-confessed mellow guy who happens to be the President of the United States.
So what does Barack Obama do when he needs to express his inner rage?
Call on his Anger Translator.
President Obama brought the house down at the 2015 White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday (April 25) by commissioning a skit from one half of the famous comedy duo Key & Peele.
Comedian Keegan-Michael Key, who plays "anger translator" Luther on his sketch show, stood behind Obama while the latter made his speech and simulated the President's unexpressed "angry feelings".
Said Obama:
"I often joke about tensions between me and the press.
"But honestly, what they say doesn't bother me.
"I'm a mellow sort of guy. And that's why I invited Luther, my anger translator, to join me here tonight."
News websites Pop Sugar, Washington Post and Vanity Fair reported that the gag was well-received by the audience as Obama delivered his speech with a straight face.
Luther — for those unfamiliar with the president’s pretend cabinet — is the guy whose job it is to yell when Obama, ever the cool and allegedly aloof cucumber, obviously cannot.
Like the Hulk to Obama’s Bruce Banner, he says the taboo stuff on the President's behalf.
Here's an excerpt:
Obama: "But we do need to stay focused on some big challenges like climate change...rising seas, more violent storms..."
Luther (yelling): "You got mosquitoes, sweaty people on the train... it's just nasty!"
According to Key, the idea of the comedic collaboration happened at one of last year’s White House Christmas parties.
He had met Obama's speech writer David Litt, who then posed a very Hollywood-like invitation: “You know, we should do something together.”
The two camps toyed with the idea throughout March and everything culminated into the successful outing on Saturday.
WATCH: Barack Obama and his Anger Translator
Source: Pop Sugar, Vanity Fair, Washington Post
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