Detailed Summary of "Wrong Turns with Jameela Jamil" Featuring Jillian Bell and Chelsea Devantes
Release Date: June 12, 2025
Introduction
In this episode of "Wrong Turns with Jameela Jamil," host Jameela Jamil invites two of her cherished friends, actress and comedian Jillian Bell and director Chelsea Devantes, to share their most mortifying and embarrassing stories. The podcast upholds its motto, "Wrong Turns: where dignity goes to die," by allowing guests to revel in their misfortunes without seeking any moral lessons.
Guest Introductions (00:51 - 02:10)
Jameela Jamil opens the episode by warmly introducing her guests:
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Jillian Bell: An accomplished actress, comedian, and screenwriter with 73 acting credits, including roles in "Idiot Sitter," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "21 Jump Street." She recently directed her first movie, "Summer of '69," which is available on Hulu.
Jillian Bell: "Warm summer of 69 on Hulu." [01:22]
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Chelsea Devantes: Jameela's "fringe twin," Instagram idol, and host of the podcast "Glamorous Trash." Chelsea is also a director and writer, known for works like "Bless This Mess," "Girls 5 Ever," and her memoir "The Problem with Jon Stewart," a RuPaul Book Club pick.
Chelsea Devantes: "I've been trying to cut my bangs like yours since our last podcast together when you told me how to do it. And I've failed every time." [01:55]
Hair Fiasco and Personal Traits (02:10 - 04:24)
The conversation kicks off with a humorous exchange about hairstyles:
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Chelsea attempts to emulate Jameela's split fringe but keeps the hair merging back together, leading to playful teasing.
Jameela Jamil: "My split literally splits the Internet. Someone's got a Twitter account just of the little split in my fringe." [02:20]
They then delve into personal traits and coping mechanisms:
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Chelsea identifies herself as "fragile and reckless," describing the challenges of balancing these traits.
Chelsea Devantes: "I've ruined a lot of trees with all my thoughts and feelings over the years." [03:44]
Jameela Jamil: "It's good to take it out on the paper, not the people." [03:56]
Jillian's Early Experiences and Anxiety (04:24 - 11:27)
Jillian Bell shares her journey with anxiety, tracing back to her teenage years:
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Poetic Beginnings: At 14, Jillian wrote dark poems about hypothetical disastrous events, reflecting her fears rather than actual experiences.
Jillian Bell: "I wrote poetry when I was 14 at Catholic school... just about the first time you have a sip of alcohol and then you crash your car." [04:37]
Jillian Bell: "I have to do a night where I just read them all because they are so sad." [05:56]
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Impact of Catholic Education: Her time at Catholic school influenced her bleak poetic themes, combining Alanis Morissette's inspiration with strict moral teachings.
Jillian Bell: "Anything that brought you joy would also be damnation. Yes. Then you'd go to hell immediately." [05:16]
Chelsea's Misadventures in New York City (11:27 - 14:05)
Chelsea Devantes recounts her college days in New York City:
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Good Intentions Gone Awry: In an effort to help the unhoused, Chelsea began stealing extra food from her university's dining hall to distribute. However, her encounter with an artistically styled gentleman made her realize the unintended offense.
Chelsea Devantes: "I handed him an orange, and he said, 'I am not hungry, nor am I homeless.' I realized how bad of a gift an orange was." [07:04]
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Shift in Approach: This experience led Chelsea to cease her well-meaning but misplaced efforts once she attained financial stability.
Chelsea Devantes: "I stopped doing it only when I had money, which was rarely." [07:38]
Jillian’s Embarrassing Encounters with Celebrities (14:05 - 21:47)
Jillian Bell delves into her awkward interactions while working as an interviewer:
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Justin Timberlake Incident: While writing for SNL, Jillian's intense crush on Justin Timberlake led her to make an inappropriate comment during his visit, stating, "Put a penis in that butt," which left both her and Timberlake in an uncomfortable situation.
Jillian Bell: "Put a penis in that butt." [11:14]
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Kesha's Wild Appearance: Recalling an interview with Kesha, Jillian describes how Kesha brought an inflatable crocodile and made out with it on live television, showcasing her wild side.
Jameela Jamil: "She rolled around all over the floor with it and then made out with it on live television." [18:10]
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Jim Carrey Selfie Mishap: Jameela shares her own experience of taking a selfie with Jim Carrey, only to later find his distaste for such fan interactions in his interviews. Jillian humorously links her anxious selfie request to this negative portrayal.
Jillian Bell: "I think I've ruined everyone taking selfies with Jim Carrey after that moment." [21:47]
Chelsea’s High School Horror Story (21:47 - 36:39)
Chelsea Devantes shares a cringe-worthy story from her boarding school days:
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Unrequited Love and Humiliation: Chelsea harbored feelings for the class clown, who was also her best friend. When he started dating her talented, cultured friend, Chelsea's emotions led her to pull his pants down at a cafeteria party, resulting in widespread embarrassment.
Chelsea Devantes: "What would you do at a cool party where the person you love who is dating your best friend has dressed up as you? Well, you do what I did. I pantsed him." [32:19]
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Aftermath and Coping: The incident left Chelsea feeling isolated and humiliated, yet it also became a defining moment that shaped her resilience and humor.
Chelsea Devantes: "I had to keep living. I had to stay alive for like, two more months till graduation." [35:43]
Host’s Own Wrong Turns and Listener Story (36:39 - 43:42)
Jameela Jamil reads a mortifying story from a listener:
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Language Mix-Up: A waitress in LA, who was trapped in Mexico during the pandemic, shares her embarrassing mistake of saying "masculos" instead of "musculos" in Spanish. While intending to compliment someone's muscles, she inadvertently referred to their "buttholes."
Jameela Jamil: "I'm saying that I've been saying 'masculos,' which means more buttholes." [38:14]
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Community Reaction: The misunderstanding led to confusion and awkwardness in the workplace, highlighting the perils of language barriers.
Jameela Jamil: "No, no, no, no, no... 'masculos' means more buttholes." [39:19]
Conclusion and Promotions (43:42 - End)
Jameela wraps up the episode by expressing heartfelt thanks to Jillian Bell and Chelsea Devantes for their candid and humorous stories. She encourages listeners to follow her on Instagram and subscribe to her Substack, "A Low Desire to Please," a platform where she shares unfiltered and often inappropriate content inspired by her personal experiences.
Jameela Jamil: "Wrong Turns was created and produced by me, Jameela Jamil and Stuart Bailey. Thank you to our launch producer Eve Bishop, our editor Shannon Joy Rogers, and consulting producer Colin Anderson." [41:56]
Key Themes
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Embracing Embarrassment: The episode underscores the importance of accepting and laughing at one's own mistakes and embarrassing moments.
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Celebrity Interactions: Both guests share awkward encounters with celebrities, highlighting the challenges of dealing with fame and personal anxieties.
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Personal Growth Through Adversity: The stories reflect how facing humiliating situations can lead to personal resilience and a better understanding of oneself.
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Miscommunication and Its Consequences: From language errors to misunderstood intentions, the episode illustrates how miscommunication can lead to unintended and mortifying outcomes.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
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Jillian Bell: "I wrote poetry when I was 14 at Catholic school... just about the first time you have a sip of alcohol and then you crash your car." [04:37]
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Chelsea Devantes: "What would you do at a cool party where the person you love who is dating your best friend has dressed up as you? Well, you do what I did. I pantsed him." [32:19]
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Jameela Jamil: "I'm saying that I've been saying 'masculos,' which means more buttholes." [38:14]
Final Thoughts
This episode of "Wrong Turns with Jameela Jamil" masterfully blends humor with raw, relatable experiences, providing listeners with an authentic look into the embarrassing yet endearing moments that shape our lives. Through the candid stories of Jillian Bell and Chelsea Devantes, the podcast reaffirms that everyone has their own series of wrong turns, and sometimes, the best way forward is to laugh them off together.
For more episodes and stories, subscribe to "Wrong Turns" on your preferred podcast platform and follow Jameela Jamil on Instagram and Substack.
