For many, a good laugh is a simple pleasure—the roll on the floor, slap the table, and laugh till you cry kind of laughter. For Black people, comedy has always been more than mere entertainment; it has been a profound form of survival, joy, and release. Through laughter, generations have found a powerful way to process pain, build community, and breathe through the chaos of everyday life.
At the heart of these cultural moments are Black women comedians who carry culture and carve out space for truth through humor. Yet, they’re often left out of the larger conversation about comedic greats. This raises an important question: who makes sure the comedians themselves laugh? For Tee Sanders, a popular comedian known for her appearance on The Round Table Game Show, the answer lies in fearlessly turning her own life into the punchline and embracing radical authenticity.
We know Sanders for her infectious energy and jokes about her sexuality, friends, and unconventional rise to comedy. However, beyond her impressive comedic skills and warm personality, Tee Sanders continues to uphold the torch as a Black, lesbian woman in the comedy field, making strides to showcase true authenticity.
Growing up, Sanders never seriously considered being a comedian, though her family suggested it often, she said. They recognized her natural ability to draw people in—whether with her dance moves, funny moments, or acting skills—and instinctively knew she wouldn’t have any trouble making it in the entertainment industry.
After turning to a few friends for advice and finally making the decision to step out on faith, comedy became Sanders’ number one love. She has garnered quite the audience with over 500K followers on Instagram and TikTok since starting at the age of 25.
“At some point, you have to realize that everyone is not just telling you something,” Sanders told GU. “If somebody says ‘you’re going to be a star,’ if you’ve been hearing that consecutively your entire life, at some point, maybe they’re onto something.” She added a crucial perspective: “A lot of times people see you before you see yourself. People see your potential before you see yourself.”
Many people see the instantly confident, extroverted side of Sanders, but she tells GU that it wasn’t always like this. Like many others who rose to popularity, she had to battle constant negative thoughts and imposter syndrome while learning how to navigate the comedy scene as a Black, lesbian woman.
Right before Sanders popped out as the fully realized, beloved performer we know today, she made the decision to quit comedy. She took a significant nine month hiatus from performing in 2023 due to crippling mental health difficulties.
“I started getting this anxiety every time I was about to go to a show,” she admitted. “Every time I was going to a show, I was getting nervous.” The anxiety became so severe it almost derailed her career: “I got so nervous when I was about to headline in Chicago, in my hometown, that I almost called and said, ‘I got into a car accident,’ [just] to cancel. Mind you, 130 people came to see me.”
She grew from the experience and used it as motivation—and content—for her sketches, instead of falling into that trap. Sanders notes that the moment her life truly transformed as a comedian was when she stopped hiding behind the jokes and instead allowed the crowd to see the most real version of herself. She found herself processing her own traumas and talking through them on stage as a form of inspiration for those in the audience, through a lot of inner work.
She recalled a time where a friend explained how her comedy was good, but it was missing a personal touch, the story of Tee. “The next day, I had another show and I talked about losing my granddaddy,” she said. “I talked about my childhood trauma, finding out I’m autistic. I talked about my son briefly, and I did a whole hour.”
Her honesty resonated immediately. “I had one of my boys, who’s been my comedy brother for the last three [or] four years with me, he looked at me and said, ‘that’s the best set I’ve ever seen you do.’”
Sanders vowed to show up as her complete self on stage from that day on, which has garnered her the success she is currently walking in. For aspiring comedians and creative people in general, Sanders recommends staying true to oneself despite expectations from the media because, “it always works,” she says. The truth, after all, guarantees the biggest laughs and the deepest connections.