But some comics tell the porn star: 'Stay in your lane'

Stormy Daniels, the porn star paid off by Donald Trump’s lawyer, is embarking on a new career as a stand-up comic.

But her first booking at a Texas club has split the American comedy scene – with some comedians claiming she’s taking work away from hard-working comics who earned their spurs.

However others sprang to her defence, saying the industry should encourage more women into stand-up, whatever their route.

Daniels – real name Stephanie Clifford – has been booked to perform two shows at  Houston's Joke Joint Comedy Club on March 20.  The club is billing the event as a ‘comedy tour’, although she has no other dates booked.

Many comics were quick to criticise her lack of experience, saying she hand’t earned the right to assume she could headline a comedy club just on the back of her fame.

Among them were Doug Stanhope, who wrote on Twitter that she chose stand-up as skilled comics made it look easy – even though it isn’t.

‘She could have done opera, orchestra or double-neck mandolin. But she chose standup. It's harder to see that you have no skill in comedy, yes? No. No it isn't. Not to us. Stick with being a rat. Unlike the movies, I'm all for a partisan rat. And I'm not even partisan.’

Daniels was also accused of taking work from comics – especially female comics. She is the only female headliner booked at the club this month.

The adult movie star hit back at her critics on Twitter, saying: ‘I did improv with Tim Meadows and Upright Citizens Brigade in LA. I've acted alongside Seth Rogan, Paul Rudd, Danny McBride, Jamie Kennedy, Jason Segal & Courteney Cox. Once I did a little TV show called Saturday Night Live.  Too bad I'm not funny or talented enough to try comedy

And when comic Eddie Ifft told her to ‘stay in your lane’, she responded: ‘I'm glad Lady Gaga didn't stay in her lane. Same for Chris Jericho, Justin Timberlake, Mark Wahlberg, The Rock, etc. As an American, I have the right to change careers, have multiple careers, try new things, and make money as I see fit.’

Laurie Kilmartin told her: ‘Doing standup is not a reward for being famous. Please leave the weekend gigs for actual female comics.’

And Daniels fired back: ‘I'll never get women who just tear other women down & I know it's not a "reward". I've been writing comedy material for over 10yrs.Would you like me to critique your bj skills?Your whole foot fits in your mouth so you'll prob do great.’

Trump denies having an affair with Daniels but  his former attorney and fixer Michael Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 hush money in 2016, which the President later reimbursed. 

Here she is on Saturday Night Live, appearing as herself alongside Ben Stiller as Cohen and Alec Baldwin as Trump.

Published: 6 Mar 2019