Ottessa Moshfegh on Lapvona with John Waters

June 21st, 2022 at The Center for Fiction

[@urbaneblobfish]

This interview is insane lmao

[@actlloyd]

Stop hating on Waters. I don't really care about his art. But he isn't doing anything wrong here. You people are evidently hanging out with too many regular people.

[@alexbielovich]

Lapvona is indeed a triumph. Now that I've finished it, I'm homesick for that world.

[@yomuthabyotch]

self-flagellate for nostalgia!

[@Cameron.Robert]

join a convent!

[@violetteray4403]

I can see why people thought this would be a perfect match…. But the vibes were so different and it was off and I was thoroughly entertained from it all ❤

[@kiwistars]

what strange questions....this is such a lost opportunity, she seems and sounds so insightful and full of amazing perspectives.

[@annahuse905]

They weren’t about the book

[@CharityIsTheBest]

I've met both of these people briefly. John Waters was so fun and weird and light, Otessa Moshfegh was curt and direct. I adore both of them artistically. Otessa's literary voice and her unobstructed cruelty is perfect to me, it's a mindfuck to me that she can create articulated worlds of misery and truth only seen in the subconscious. She acted like I was an asshole for asking her about that. So mean! I love her.

[@Transformational_change]

I love this interview💜🌈

[@nianayay]

She is the real April Ludgate.

[@lillypoluza69]

This interview feels like having a conversation with a person who's intent is trying their hardest to miss the point of what you're saying.

[@jennygale5907]

have a lot of respect for john waters but ottessa is the main focus....let's talk more about her books please :)

[@robsken7817]

yeah, I thought exact thing. John Waters is John Waters, that is great. Congrats John Waters, but I was hoping to hear Ottessa's thoughts.

[@tunalinameebambina]

Same

[@terrytomxon1981]

😢

[@james-nw9up]

John waters is.. fucked in the h3ad.. this was definitely interesting.. not really an interview though. Just a discussion

[@caesartopacio9636]

I'm here for John waters. He's the best in this feature. This the most engaging conversations with someone.

[@rubyj7647]

i like this interview! john waters treats the artist like an artist instead of a savior. "but HOW did you write it?" i mean, how else can you talk about someone's personal hallucination they wrote down?? freudian analysis? political allegory? we're past that. how does one have any fun these days, isn't that a question worth asking?

[@zeldalovermariopizza]

John Waters is a mastermind and an auteur in his own right. But his zeal here is a little overbearing and doesn’t quite align with Moshfegh’s vibe.

[@michaelr.mcguire3112]

Surprised to hear John Waters hates Bukowski.

[@emilyisreading_]

this interview was so awkward lol

[@p.w.e.2374]

INA!

[@juliegoldman6778]

First interview on the tour....hard to follow ! ...just wished they talked a bit about my favorite, McGlue

[@albertmorrisontheaustralianyrs]

this interview did not work, John I think was not skillful in his questioning and never gave Ottessa the space she was meant to. too many closed questions and I gave up in the end...

[@robertwysocki2073]

It's too bad that so very little time here is devoted to actually discussing the book.

[@GraveyardShift-tl6ri]

this set of questions and conversation is bad, focus on the actual book and its contents, ottessa not at fault at all

[@omalleysmith9100]

What a wasted opportunity John Waters had here. He's so immature and silly and could've asked so many more interesting questions. I'm sure he's got many talents - interviewing authors isn't one of them. Couldn't even watch this to the end.

[@janneglnd7633]

Haha! He is horrible! Imagine how deep this conversation could have been.

[@PaulMcMinotaur]

He’s slaying. You’re jealous.

[@nicolaiwanczek3221]

Waters comes across as a guy who is too intoxicated by his own dandy - personality and his effant terrible stamp decades ago to take another artist seriously & give some space. Well done Otessa for not smiling along with his stupid jokes & comments. Highly intelligent woman and one of the most exciting writers of the last years. Awaiting a lot more fantastic, existentialistic and controversial books from this elegant lady.

[@samcopeland3155]

An artist and a fraud walk into a bar.

[@user-mf1rz9mn3l]

Came back to comment after reflecting on this interview, and as much as I am a fan of Eileen, I think that in this interview Ottessa comes off as full of herself, I’ve seen way more successful and talented writers that don’t take themselves as seriously as she does, and no, I’m not saying this because she’s a woman, she’s just a person who thinks she’s above everyone else, and although her character studies are interesting, her use of language is nothing extraordinary nor is her plot (as she thought she was above it, mmm okay?) Lost respect for her after this interview, she needs to be taken down a peg or two, also claiming she doesn’t know any of her contemporaries, girl please you’ve said in other interviews how much of an influence Easton Ellis was for you… also as an artist I think you must be aware of other people in your line of work, she went full Mariah on JLo “I don’t know her” Also, John Waters is a legend (even though I’m not a personal fan of his work), he’s known for his quirky personality, you truly couldn’t expect him to be a regular interviewer, and she refused to play along with him, if you disliked him so much, then maybe don’t agree to be interviewed by him? Being a creative you also have to show respect for the ones that came before you, just look at the contempt with which she’s looking at John, even Waters was taken aback, saying “the audience is scared of asking questions”. You personally suck Ottessa.

[@somethingdiscreet]

What a weird comment. What did she do to give you the impression she thinks she's better than everyone else? I just see her being a normal person answering questions.

[@callumdrew]

Bro that's one deeply insecure comment. Think you aught to go do some self reflection.

[@janneglnd7633]

take your foot down. You look like a sign! It is disturbing my listening.

[@jimbo9345]

shut up

[@robertsantana3261]

I dislike this woman. Can’t figure out why exactly.

[@bornatona3954]

That guy is so so irritating

[@MAFion]

Did you ever see Serial Mom? Look him up youngblood.

[@griffinmerryweather5487]

This man is a gift to the world

[@pauleiwalsh]

You haven’t lived if you know nothing of Mr. John Waters