Gabriel Iglesias brings his ‘Fluffy’ tour to Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids

When Martin Moreno was asked what makes Gabriel Iglesias so special, the longtime comic, who has been the opener for many tours for the “Fluffy” stand-up gushed. “There is no one like Gabriel,” Moreno said. “He really is incomparable and you can say that about few people today.”

There are many things that separate Iglesias from his peers. The San Diego native doesn’t really have an act. Iglesias, 48, just tells relatable stories, which are like potato chips. One anecdote leads to another with fans sitting on the edge of their seat as the everyman humorist delivers the voice of each character.

“I love telling stories,” Iglesias said. “I have so many of them and I’m just glad so many people like to hear them.”

“I’m not fat, I’m fluffy,” became Iglesias’ signature line at the start of his surprising career. His weight has inspired his material. “I like talking about myself since I know what I’m talking about, and people connect with it,” Iglesias said. “I’ll talk about flying Southwest (Airlines). I won’t complain about issues they have with fluffy people. I look at the other side. When I fly Southwest, I buy two seats. It’s what I call ‘ghetto first-class,’ I have lots of room, and it’s great because I get double the snacks.”

Many contemporary stand-ups appeal to a segment of the population. Iglesias is akin to an old school comic. Back in the day, comics like the late George Carlin, David Brenner and Robert Klein appealed to many. It’s similar for Iglesias, who will perform his Don’t Worry Be Fluffy Tour on Oct. 25 at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids. That’s how Iglesias became the first comic to ever headline massive Dodger Stadium in 2022. An eclectic audience is drawn to Iglesias’ relatable material.

Iglesias is a survivor. He lived through a hardscrabble youth in Southern California in public housing. As a young adult, Iglesias quit a stable job with a phone company to focus on comedy. He was evicted and had his car repossessed but continued with comedy.

“You got to do what you have to do in life,” Iglesias said. “If you work hard enough at what you love, things will work out.”

As a prepubescent, Iglesias realized that his dream was to become a comic. “When I saw Eddie Murphy’s ‘Raw,’ I was like, ‘I want to do this!’ I always tried to make my mother and my friends laugh. It was a way to get through the tough times. When I saw that I could make people laugh, it just made me want to do it more. Comedy has a way of making everything better.”

Comedy led Iglesias to Hollywood. The charismatic humorist appeared in the film “Magic Mike” and voiced characters in “The Nut Job” and “El Americano: The Movie.” However, if Iglesias had to make a choice, it’s stand-up over the soundstage.

“I love that with comedy, you just go and have fun onstage,” Iglesias said. “With movies, you work and then you wait around. I enjoy doing movies but I’m not crazy about all of the waiting you do.”

That’s why comedy is the primary outlet of Iglesias’ expression. Iglesias doesn’t have to deal with gatekeepers. It’s been an enjoyable ride for Iglesias, who is pleased to not just have an enviable career but to be alive.

While working on “The Fluffy Movie” in 2014, Iglesias reached 445 pounds and was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. His doctor gave him two years to live. The news shocked Iglesias, who responded by losing 100 pounds.

“Some people (fans) weren’t crazy about me losing weight because of the ”Fluffy“ thing,” Iglesias said. “But I have to make the best decisions for my health so I can live and be able to go out and have this career.”