Fakkah Fuzz (Fadzri Rashid)

Fakkah Fuzz (born on 19 September 1986 as Mohammad Fadzri bin Adbul Rashid) is a Singaporean comedian, host and entertainment figure. In 2018, he was the first Singaporean to be featured given a Netflix comedy special. He has also clinched titles in comedy competitions and performed on both local and international stages. As of July 2020, Fakkah Fuzz has over 91,428 followers on Facebook and 37,000 followers on Instagram.

Fakkah Fuzz
Fakkah Fuzz profile.jpg
Born
Mohammad Fadzri Adbul Rashid

19 September 1986
EducationDiploma (Mass Communications)

Background

Fakkah Fuzz realised that he wanted to pursue stand up comedy after completing his secondary studies in Malaysia.[1] At the time, he had been inspired by comedians like Chris Rock and Dave Chapelle. Some of the first few opportunities Fakkah Fuzz had in comedy was performing at the Singaporean bar, eM By The River and opening for the Australian comedian, Jonathan Atherton in Malaysia. Subsequently, he was noticed by brands like Jetstar and was even a crowd warmer for Asia’s Got Talent.[2]

Early life & family

 
Fakkah Fuzz is the older brother of the Singaporean rapper, Fariz Jabba (Fariz Rashid). Photo from Facebook.

Fakkah Fuzz was born in Singapore but spent his early childhood years in both Masjid Tanah, Malacca and Singapore.[3] He moved to Singapore to complete his primary school studies before returning to Malaysia for his secondary level education.[4] During his teenage years in Malaysia, he was a guitarist in a band called Silent Ambush and aspired to be a performer.[5] With his Malaysian qualifications, he was rejected by pre-university education institutions in Singapore. Instead, he started hosting music gigs and took up odd jobs like being a paintball facilitator.[6] From these experiences, he built up his public speaking skills and branched into stand-up comedy.[7]

Education

Fakkah Fuzz attended three different primary schools in Singapore.[8] He then went to Methodist High School, a private school located in Tengkera, Malacca.[9] After serving his National Service (NS) and working as a paintball instructor, he received his diploma in mass communications.[10]

Comedy career

Fakkah Fuzz: Almost Banned (2018) - Netflix Original

 
Fakkah Fuzz pictured on the poster for his Netflix show, Almost Banned (2018). Photo from Netflix.

Fakkah Fuzz was the first Singaporean to have a Netflix original comedy special. The hour-long special featured his sold-out show at the Capitol Theatre in Singapore.[11] Although he was applauded for this achievement, an entertainment blog called The Wrap critiqued his show, saying that it was limited to Singaporean and Malaysian audiences due to the nature of his jokes. The blog ranked his show as the second last on their list of 2018 Netflix comedy specials.[12]

Comedy shows

Over the years, Fakkah Fuzz has performed at numerous comedy clubs and festivals like Comedy Masala[13] and Happy Ever Laughter.[14][15] He has also performed at events like Beerfest Singapore. Outside of Singapore, he has performed in Malaysia,[16] Australia,[17] the United States of America[18][19] and China. The following table is a list of his solo shows in recent years.

Year Show Location Refs.
2019 Malaysia More Better by Fakkah Fuzz The Platform, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia [20]
2018 Unmarried Esplanade Theatre, Singapore [21]
Fridays with Fuzz Singapore [22]
2017 In Fuzz We Trust: Almost Banned Capitol Theatre, Singapore [23]
Get The FUZZ Out Blu Jaz Cafe, Singapore [24]

Awards & accolades

Year Awarding Organisation Position Refs.
2016 Laugh Factory’s Funniest Person in the World competition Finalist [25]
2015 Super Spontan Upsize improv TV competition First runner up [26]
2013 Sydney Comedy Festival: Yo Mama Battle Second place [27]
2012 Stand Up For Singapore competition First Place [28]

Hosting

The More Better Podcast (2019 - present day)

 
As of 2020, Fakkah Fuzz actively uploads episodes on his podcast, The More Better podcast. Photo from Spotify.

Fakkah Fuzz hosts a podcast on Spotify. He has invited Singaporean personalities such as ShiGGa Shay, Hirzi Zulkiflie and Rosalyn Lee to speak on topics ranging from social issues to industry-specific talking points. He released 10 episodes of the podcast in 2019. On 11 July 2020, Fakkah Fuzz released his podcast with the Singaporean politician, Chee Soon Juan.[29]

Television

Over the years, Fakkah Fuzz has hosted several television programmes.

AH...! Adam & Hawa (2016)

From January to February 2016, he was a co-host for the Mediacorp Suria programme, AH...! Adam & Hawa. He fronted the show with another Singaporean personality, Nadiah M. Din. In eight episodes, the informative talk show discusses common scenarios faced by couples through the perspective of each sex.[30]

Throwback: Balik Kampong (2015 - 2016)

 
Fakkah Fuzz and Rozz pictured for Throwback: Balik Kampong Season 1 (2015).

Fakkah Fuzz was a co-host for the Mediacorp Channel 5 show, Throwback: Balik Kampong. He hosted the series with Rosalyn Lee (Rozz) for both Season 1 and Season 2.[31] The show follows three families competing in several challenges in a village setting.

50 Ways To Be A Singaporean (2014)

In 2014, Fakkah Fuzz hosted the Mediacorp Channel 5 show, 50 Ways To Be A Singaporean. The show lasted for 14 episodes and featured unique aspects of Singaporean life.[32] The series featured local celebrities every episode, including actors like Tay Ping Hui and Gurmit Singh.[33]

Newsworthy incidents

Distributing N95 Masks in Johor (2019)

In March 2019, Fakkah Fuzz made the news for their volunteer efforts at Pasir Gudang in Johor, Malaysia. The group delivered N95 masks to Pasir Gudang residents to protect them from inhaling airborne toxic-waste particles.[34] This effort was initiated in response to the negative health effects of the illegal waste dumping in the nearby Sungai Kim Kim river.[35][36]

Inappropriate behaviour at USS Halloween Horror Nights (2018)

In 2018, a Universal Studios Singapore (USS) scare actor for the annual Halloween Horror Nights took to Facebook to express her disappointment at the behaviour of social media influencers during the event’s media preview. She attached two Instagram stories from Hirzi Zulkiflie and Fakkah Fuzz as evidence to her claims. A portion of her Facebook post reads as such:

"You are not being professional. It’s NOT FUNNY! Joke targeting actors, indirectly offensive, noisy like monkeys, screaming back INTO the scare actor’s EARS, spoiling the atmosphere for other media guests, creating a scene and trying to out do every single lines of the actor. IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO IS NOT FROM THE ACTING OR MEDIA SCENE, I would have totally understand."[37]

Fakkah Fuzz apologised for his actions on Instagram and explained comedy was his defense mechanism in such situations. He further added that he did not mean to disrespect the performers.[38]

Almost banned from Malaysia (2016)

In 2016, Fakkah Fuzz uploaded a clip of his performance at Singapore’s School of the Arts (SOTA) Drama Theatre during the Singapore Comedy Fringe Festival. In his performance, he made a joke about the different usage of the Malay language in Singapore and Malaysia, pointing out the Singaporean Malays call thieves pencuri (Malay for thief), while Malaysian Malays call thieves perdana menteri (Malay for prime minister). His joke offended several Malaysians and he was called to be blacklisted in Malaysia by the Selangor United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) Youth chief, Zainuri Zainal.[39] In response, Fakkah Fuzz took down the video and subsequently posted an apology video. He noted that he did not intend to cause any hurt or political unrest. He added that he hopes viewers can be more open-minded and “learn to take a joke once in a while”.[40]

References/ Citations

  1. "O’ Level Dropout to Stand-up Comedian, Fakkah Fuzz”. Misfits. September 25, 2016. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  2. Frois, Andre. “Fakkah Fuzz: Journey from Shopping Mall Cleaner to TV Darling”. Popspoken. August 26, 2015. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  3. Fakkah Fuzz. "I was born and raised in Singapore till primary 6." Facebook. July 30, 2016. Accessed on 20 July 2020.
  4. Fakkah Fuzz. "Happy 60th Malaysia". Facebook. August 31, 2017. Accessed on 20 July 2020.
  5. "O’ Level Dropout to Stand-up Comedian, Fakkah Fuzz”. Misfits. September 25, 2016. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  6. Ibid.
  7. Bryan Victor. "Fakkah Fuzz on How to Fail ‘O’ Levels and Get On with Life". YouTube. September 15, 2016. Accessed on 20 July 2020.
  8. "O’ Level Dropout to Stand-up Comedian, Fakkah Fuzz”. Misfits. September 25, 2016. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  9. Fakkah Fuzz. "Happy 60th Malaysia". Facebook. August 31, 2017. Accessed on 20 July 2020.
  10. Nurul Azilah. "Poking fun at Malay stereotypes without much Fuzz". Yahoo! News. April 6, 2016. Accessed on 20 July 2020.
  11. Yip Wai Yee. "Local funnyman Fakkah Fuzz lets rip on Netflix comedy special". The Straits Times. February 8, 2018. Accessed on 20 July 2020.
  12. FAKKAH FUZZ’S NETFLIX STAND-UP SPECIAL RANKED SECOND-WORST OF 2018: THE WRAP”. Coconuts Singapore. April 18, 2018. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  13. Hero's. "Comedy Masala ft. FAKKAH FUZZ (SG)". Facebook. Accessed on 20 July 2020.
  14. Fakkah Fuzz. "Fuzz Stand Up Comedy 2014 - Happy Ever Laughter". YouTube. September 22, 2014. Accessed on 20 July 2020.
  15. Kiazell Chua. "Happy Ever Laughter | The Battle - Irene Ang VS Fakkah Fuzz". YouTube. July 31, 2018. Accessed on 20 July 2020.
  16. The GALA Bonanza w. Fakkah Fuzz, GB Labrador, Joanne Kam & More!”. The Citylist. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  17. Comedy Zone Asia (Malaysia,Brunei,IN,SGP)”. Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  18. Fakkah Fuzz. "Singaporean Comedian in Los Angeles". YouTube. May 6, 2019. Accessed on 20 July 2020.
  19. Fakkah Fuzz. “Singapore Comedian performs in New York City!...”. Facebook. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  20. Malaysia More Better Comedy Show by Fakkah Fuzz”. Ken News. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  21. FAKKAH FUZZ - UNMARRIED (M18)”. Esplanade. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  22. 2018 27 Apr Fri - Kilo Laughs presents” Fridays with Fuzz”. Kilo Kitchen. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  23. In Fuzz We Trust: Almost Banned & Everybody Calm Down!”. Peatix. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  24. Get The FUZZ Out - SOLD OUT - [2nd show added on the 8th]”. Peatix. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  25. Ezinne Ukoha. “Laugh Factory’s Funniest Person in the World Competition reveals Top 20 Finalists”. Hollywood Reporter. 14 October 2016. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  26. Bio”. Fakkah Fuzz. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  27. Tan, Kee Yun. “He’s stuck with ‘vulgar’ stage name”. The New Paper. May 18, 2013. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  28. Previous Shows”. Fakkah Fuzz. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  29. "The More Better Podcast". Spotify. Accessed on 20 July 2020.
  30. AH…! - EP8”. meWATCH. February 21, 2016. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  31. Throwback: Balik Kampong S2 - EP1”. meWATCH. October 2, 2016. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  32. "50 Ways To Be A Singaporean - EP1". meWatch. September 11, 2014. Accessed on 20 July 2020.
  33. "50 Ways To Be A Singaporean - EP11". meWATCH. November 20, 2014. Accessed on 20 July 2020.
  34. Comedian Fakkah Fuzz personally delivers N95 face masks to site of toxic chemical pollution in Johor”. Coconuts Singapore. March 14, 2019. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  35. "Pasir Gudang schools told to shut in latest air pollution case". The Straits Times. June 24, 2019. Accessed on 20 July 2020.
  36. "Pasir Gudang pollution caused by leftover toxic waste from Sungai Kim Kim, minister says". The Straits Times. June 24, 2019. Accessed on 20 July 2020.
  37. Belle Perreira Ho. "Media Night is suppose to let media help to promote the event.". Facebook. September 26, 2018. Accessed on 20 July 2020.
  38. USS Performer calls out comedians for harassment received during Halloween Horror Nights media preview”. Coconuts Singapore. September 28, 2018. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  39. Lee, Phyllis. “Singapore comedian facing ban in Malaysia over Najib joke”. The New Paper. July 5, 2016. Accessed on 31 May 2019.
  40. Singaporean Fakkah Fuzz apologises and hopes that people can still turn to comedy in troubled times”. Today. July 4, 2016. Accessed on 31 May 2109.