Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias is one of America’s top comics. And he loves coming to Fresno.

By his estimation, he has played Fresno for 25 years.

“People want to see me. I want to see them. It’s not up to me … if the demand is there, I am going,” Fluffy told GV Wire in a phone interview from his Long Beach home. “It’s just been one of those places I’ve been going to since day one … it’s like going back home.”

He returns Saturday night to the Save Mart Center. Show time is 8 p.m. Arena officials say tickets are selling well, but are still available at the box office or Ticketmaster.

This is Fluffy’s third show at the big venue, but he played for many years at the Big Fresno Fair. The fair even named a street after him.

“Honestly, as soon as the show was over, I thought they were going to take the sign down and then put up the next guy,” Fluffy said.

Relating to the Audience

The Fresno show is the second for his new “Don’t Worry Be Fluffy” tour. He opens Friday in Lincoln (near Sacramento). He keeps his act fresh tour to tour, night to night.

“I get tired of my own act. And so I have to constantly challenge myself by digging a hole intentionally and then seeing if I can get out of the hole,” Fluffy said.

He writes his material, telling stories not jokes, he said. Stories he said, that people can relate to, regular everyday issues. How can he still relate?

“By still addressing the fact that I’m a regular person. I bleed, I breathe. I have issues with family, I have issues with health … I’m a fish out of water when I travel to certain places. People can connect and relate to that,” Fluffy said.

One thing he can relate to is crime. He had a break-in at his home and, naturally, he joked about it.

“I grew up in the hood, so I’ve already had a perception of crime. I just figured I’m in a better neighborhood, this should go well. No, it didn’t. Actually, you’re a bigger target,” Fluffy said.

Fortunately, no one was home and no one got hurt. He has sold the house since.

nobody wants to get old
Gabriel Iglesias: Legend of Fluffy is now playing only on Netflix pic.twitter.com/aHumEdjiFE

— Netflix Is A Joke (@NetflixIsAJoke) January 19, 2025

The Price of Celebrity

Billboard ranked Fluffy third for top-grossing comic acts in 2024, with $42 million for 124 shows.

The celebrity comes with a price. He says it is “challenging” to go out and eat.

“It’s a blessing and a curse at the same time. It’s a curse for my tummy. But it’s a blessing because people do want to come out and say hi and take pictures and stuff. And so I’m grateful for that. But yeah, the days of partying and going out … I’m almost 50,” Fluffy said.

One of the toughest parts is “the amount of guilt you have to balance from family and friends.”

Sacrificing family time has been tough, Fluffy said.

“The hardest part has been just dealing with the highs and lows of family and friends over the years. Because you want them to be your rock, you want them to be in your corner. And unfortunately, success … not everyone can handle success, even if it’s not their own success,” Fluffy said.

Losing weight is a personal goal of Fluffy’s: “Not so much for vanity’s sake, but I’m getting older and I just want to be around longer.”

He’s also contemplated retirement.

“I’m just doing it because I love it,” Fluffy said.

Almost Running Over Hulk Hogan

Fluffy is a big wrestling fan, attending WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event” live on NBC on Jan. 25. He grew up watching wrestling and became a “Hulkamaniac.”

“I’ve been watching it since I was a kid. It’s ingrained in my soul,” Fluffy said.

At a recent WrestleMania, he had a chance to meet Hulk Hogan.

“I almost ran him over with a golf cart,” Fluffy said.

WWE had asked him to interview wrestlers with cameras rolling while he drove them backstage in a golf cart.

“There wasn’t a whole lot of room. Hulk Hogan was cutting a promo in the middle of the … passageway and it was on a turn. And so when I cut the corner, I almost hit him and (manager) Jimmy Hart,” Fluffy said.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin is his all-time favorite, with current champ Cody Rhodes as his right-now choice. He is also a fan of big-guy Otis.

Who Fluffy Follows

Fluffy said he enjoys comics who “do things I don’t do.”

“I’m not trying to push people away. I’m trying to bring people in. So you avoid politics, you avoid religion, and you stay away from sports and I think you’ll be OK,” Fluffy said.

He wants to keep his comedy “friendly and open,” for a broader audience.

“I like comics that … cause a little chaos just because that’s not me. So comics (that) question society a lot more than I ever would,” Fluffy said.

He mentioned Bill Burr, Jim Jefferies, Tom Segura, and Dave Chappelle as comics he watches.