Carrot Top is back onstage in Las Vegas.
The prop comic, 61, whose real name is Scott Thompson, performed his first show Monday night at the Luxor Hotel & Casino since his hospitalization last month following a suicide attempt. He took the stage before a sold-out crowd and addressed the incident directly, weaving it into his stand-up set.
Thompson called it an “emotional night” and joked about the audience’s seating arrangements reflecting their concern levels. “The middle section was like, ‘He’s alright,'” he quipped. “The back row’s like, ‘What happened?! What the f–k he do?!'”
He added, “It’s true! Some people have no idea what I’ve done,” alluding to the suicide attempt. Thompson told the crowd he had struggled to figure out “what was appropriate” for his first performance back, then walked to his signature trunk of props and pulled out a noose. “This would probably not be appropriate,” he said, holding up the rope as the audience laughed.
The comedian followed with another noose, this one with a rubber chicken hanging from it. An image of an elephant with red hair — his nod to “the elephant in the room” — appeared on the large screen behind him. He thanked fans and joked it was the first time in his career he had no idea what to talk about. Video showed the crowd erupting in applause as he finished his set.
Thompson had announced his return via Instagram on Saturday, his first public statement about the incident. “I’m truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, support, prayers, and well wishes I’ve received over the past couple of weeks,” he wrote. “Every message, text, and kind thought has meant more to me than you know.”
He noted he hadn’t “been able to respond to everyone individually” but felt their “love” and expressed appreciation “from the bottom of [his] heart,” He continued, “Thank you for being there for me during this time. It truly means the world to me!”
Thompson was found unconscious near a pool at his Las Vegas home on Sept. 18. Police were conducting a welfare check after his manager called regarding an upcoming article containing sexual misconduct allegations against the comedian. The manager told officers Thompson had been distressed on the phone and texted him “done” shortly after hanging up, according to a police report. Thompson remained hospitalized until approximately Sept. 26, when he was cleared to recover at home. He made his first public appearance at a church service on Oct. 4.
The incident occurred during Thompson’s ongoing legal dispute with Bryan Evans, his former show opener. Evans allegedly threatened to release a sexually explicit video of Thompson unless paid $500,000. Evans denied the allegations, saying that he “never threatened — ever — to post any video anywhere in exchange for a settlement” and claimed the video was “deleted a long time ago.”
Thompson’s Monday show marked his return to the residency he has maintained at the Luxor, where he has been a fixture on the Las Vegas entertainment scene for years. His ability to convert personal crisis into comedic material follows a long tradition in stand-up, though the speed of his return surprised some observers.
The comedian’s handling of the situation drew mixed reactions online, with some praising his candor and others questioning the appropriateness of the noose props. Thompson did not address the legal case with Evans during the performance, focusing instead on his own recovery and gratitude toward supporters.
Thompson’s next scheduled performance at the Luxor is Tuesday night.