{{short description|American comedian}} {{Infobox comedian <!-- for individuals - see Template:Infobox comedian for usage --> | pre-nominals = | name = Sydnee Washington | post-nominals = | image =SydneeWashington-byPhilipRomano.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption =Washington in 2025 | pseudonym = | birth_name = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_date = | birth_place = Brooklyn, New York, New York, USA | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | medium = Stand-up, television, podcast | education = | alma_mater = | years_active = 2013 {{endash}} present | employer = | genre = | subject = | spouse = | domestic_partner = | children = | parents = | relatives = | notable_works = ''The Unofficial Expert'' (podcast) | memorials = | signature = | website = | footnotes = | module = }} '''Sydnee Washington''' is an American comedian, actress, model, and podcaster. She appeared on Comedy Central's Up Next showcase in 2018. Washington co-hosted the comedy podcast ''The Unofficial Expert'' with Marie Faustin. Their latest podcast ''Mess'' premiered in 2024. Her work has been highlighted in The New York Times, Time Out, New York Post, and W.
== Career == Washington pursued comedy based on a friend's recommendation. Working at a high-end cocktail lounge she would frequently banter with customers.<ref name="vulture2020-garron">{{Cite web|last=Garron|first=Taylor|date=2020-03-13|title=All the Kids Want to Know Sydnee Washington's Skin-Care Routine|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/03/sydnee-washington-best-up-and-coming-comedian.html|access-date=2020-08-05|website=Vulture|language=en-us}}</ref> Her friend filmed several of the bits and edited them into a reel to convince Washington to pursue comedy.<ref name="vulture2020-garron" /> She first performed stand-up in 2013.<ref name=comicscoic2018>{{Cite web|last=McCarthy|first=Sean L.|date=2018-08-09|title=Meet Me In New York: Sydnee Washington|url=https://thecomicscomic.com/2018/08/09/meet-me-in-new-york-sydnee-washington/|access-date=2020-09-11|website=The Comic's Comic|language=en-US}}</ref>
She gained wider prominence after she appeared in Comedy Central's 2018 ''Up Next'' showcase.<ref name="vulture2020-garron" /> That year she also hosted ''Death of a Bottle Girl'', a one-woman show that was called "hilarious" by ''Time Out''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Sydnee Washington revisits her years as a hard-partying bottle girl|url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/comedy/sydnee-washington|access-date=2020-08-05|website=Time Out New York|date=12 March 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
With Marie Faustin and Aminah Imani, she co-hosted the Sunday night Knitting Factory comedy showcase originally started by comedian Hannibal Burress.<ref name="vulture2020-garron" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Comedy at the Knitting Factory {{!}} Comedy in New York|url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/comedy/comedy-at-the-knitting-factory-1|access-date=2020-09-11|website=Time Out New York|date=8 May 2019 |language=en}}</ref> She also co-hosted the comedy podcast ''The Unofficial Expert'' with Faustin, where the two interviewed experts from various fields and shared their own life experience. The podcast was recommended by Vulture.<ref name="vulture-fox2018">{{Cite web|last=Fox|first=Jesse David|date=2018-11-13|title=38 Comedians You Should and Will Know|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/11/best-new-comedians-to-watch-2018.html|access-date=2020-08-05|website=Vulture|language=en-us}}</ref>
In 2020, due to social distancing requirements related to COVID-19, Washington no longer had the option of performing live stand-up.<ref name="harpers2020">{{Cite magazine|last=Betancourt|first=Bianca|date=2020-09-16|title=Sydnee Washington Is Comedy's Hottest Dish|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a33983414/sydnee-washington-interview/|access-date=2020-10-10|magazine=Harper's BAZAAR|language=en-US}}</ref> She began hosting a weekly Instagram Live show called ''Syd Can Cook'' to have a consistent platform to perform for an audience.<ref name="nypost2020">{{Cite web |last1=Weiss |first1=Suzy |last2=Fleming |first2=Kirsten |date=2020-06-23 |title=Meet 7 emerging comics keeping the laughs going during the pandemic |url=https://nypost.com/2020/06/23/meet-7-emerging-comics-keeping-the-laughs-going-during-the-pandemic/ |access-date=2020-08-05 |website=New York Post |language=en-US}}</ref> She is assisted in person by her friend Karolena Greenidge, and they go live with various comedians who attempt to assist Washington follow a recipe, like chicken tikka masala and shrimp scampi.<ref name="harpers2020" />
Washington is also a model.<ref name="vulture2020-garron" />
In 2021, she started the podcast ''Hobby Hunter'', featuring guests including Caleb Hearon and Shelby Wolstein, who discuss "the hobbies that have brought them joy over the years."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Marine|first=Brooke|date=2021-03-05|title=Sydnee Washington Makes a Hobby Out of Being Herself|url=https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/sydnee-washington-hobby-hunter-one-fun-thing|access-date=2021-03-06|website=W Magazine|language=en}}</ref> It has since ended.
In 2024, Sydnee and Marie reunited for the podcast ''Mess'' on the Big Money Players Network.
== Personal life == Washington was born in Brooklyn, where she currently resides.<ref name="nypost2020" /> She spent her childhood in Oakland and moved back to Brooklyn when she was 13.<ref name="comicscoic2018" /><ref name=":1" /> Washington graduated from Clark University.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2024 |title=Seek Treatment with Cat & Pat |url=https://headgum.com/seek-treatment-with-cat-pat/linkedin-workshop-w-sydnee-washington}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BONUS: Made Tough & An Old Soul w/ Sydnee Washington - Bombing with Eric Andre |url=https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-bombing-with-eric-andre-120233938/episode/bonus-made-tough-an-old-166361266/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=iHeart |language=en}}</ref>
Washington is a lesbian and began to identify as such during adulthood.<ref name="vulture2020-garron" /><ref name="mtv2020">{{Cite web|last=Schulman|first=Alissa|title=How LGBTQ+ Creators Are Making Representation Happen On Their Own Terms|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3126315/sound-on-pride/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607133850/http://www.mtv.com/news/3126315/sound-on-pride/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 7, 2019|access-date=2020-08-05|website=MTV News|language=en}}</ref> She remarked that many people are skeptical of her sexuality due to her femme presentation.<ref name="vulture2020-garron" /> About Hollywood she told ''Paper'': "At least they know what a gay male actor is supposed to be...For somebody like me, they're like, 'Gay isn't believable, you have rhinestones on.'"<ref name="papermag-2020">{{Cite web|last=Goldfine|first=Jael|date=2020-06-30|title=This Generation of Comedy Is Queer|url=https://www.papermag.com/queer-comedy-portfolio-2020-generation-2646300928.html?rebelltitem=4#rebelltitem4?rebelltitem=4|access-date=2020-08-05|website=PAPER|language=en}}</ref>
== Awards and nominations ==
* 2022 – Nominee, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series (for ''Bridesman'')<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Hipes |first1=Patrick |last2=Andreeva |first2=Nellie |date=2022-07-12 |title=Emmy Nominations: The Complete List |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/2022-emmy-nominations-list-1235062260/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> * 2023 – Winner, Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Comedy/Variety Sketch Series (for ''Inside Amy Schumer'')<ref>{{Cite news |title=2023 Writers Guild Awards Winners & Nominees |url=https://awards.wga.org/awards/nominees-winners |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=awards.wga.org |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|id=nm7758349}} * [https://www.instagram.com/justsydbw/ Sydnee Washington] on Instagram * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgDAORpM6ek&list=PLD7nPL1U-R5oeP3zFhsBM1euruSLOMvZQ&index=15&t=0s Sydnee Washington] on YouTube, Comedy Central's ''Up Next''
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington, Sydnee}} <!--- Categories ---> Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:African-American actresses Category:American lesbian actresses Category:African-American LGBTQ people Category:21st-century African-American women Category:21st-century African-American people Category:African-American female models Category:Actresses from Brooklyn Category:Comedians from Brooklyn Category:African-American women comedians Category:African-American comedians Category:American women comedians Category:American women podcasters Category:American interview podcasters Category:Writers Guild of America Award winners Category:American lesbian comedians Category:Lesbian models