Bobby Lee responds to backlash over resurfaced Tijuana prostitution story: 'It's not real'

Bobby Lee has responded to backlash over resurfaced videos of the comedian repeatedly telling a story, most recently on a 2020 podcast episode, about an encounter with a prostitute in Tijuana, Mexico.

The story details Lee — who is currently on a Bad Friends tour with Andrew Santino — going to Tijuana and scouting for a prostitute in "hooker alley," where he found a "girl that seemed scared" and picked her to have sex with. He goes on to describe the woman as "crying" before he speeds up the process to "get it over with." 

The 51-year-old has been accused on social media of confessing to a child rape after his past comments began re-circulating in early April. On April 5, Lee addressed the criticism on his "TigerBelly" podcast, noting he has been encouraged to not speak up about the story in order to not bring attention to it – but claiming the story was made up.

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"These last couple of weeks have been so bad, I just need to say something. … It's easily explainable," the comedian began.

Lee said in 2013 he was forced to do press after not selling tickets to his second show at Carolines on Broadway comedy club in New York City. When Lee saw "Opie and Anthony" on his schedule, he recalled telling his team, "I don't want to do that show. It's just not my brand. It's edgy, shock jock radio."

The following year, he was scheduled to go on the same radio show and Lee said he decided to do "self-deprecation" and "crazy" jokes to avoid being skewered by the hosts.

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The "Reservation Dogs" actor said he combined two unsuccessful jokes from his tour to form the Tijuana story. The first bit was about going on a date with a young girl who looked like 12-year-old Natalie Portman from "Léon: The Professional" and the second joke was about speeding up the process of sex with his girlfriend who started crying about her recently deceased grandma during the act. 

"I was encouraged to say crazy stuff without thinking about it," Lee said of why he told the story. "When I listen back to it now it puts a chill down my spine."

The comedian continued, "I changed with society and I look at that story and feel guilt over it. It's terrible. It was stupid to say it as many times as I said it."

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Lee first told the joke on "Opie & Anthony" in November 2013, then on the "This Past Weekend" podcast with Theo Von in January 2020 and also on his podcast "TigerBelly."

"I understand the uproar and why people are upset about it. I'm upset about it and I punish myself over it every second of every day," Lee said in his latest podcast episode. "At the end of the day, it's not real and I didn't do anything."

USA TODAY reached out to Lee's reps for comment.

Lee is a stand-up comedian, known for being a cast member on MADtv from 2001 to 2009. He has also appeared on shows including "Splitting Up Together" and "Magnum P.I." as well as movies "Pineapple Express" and "The Dictator."