Jimmy Failla, a comedian and part-time taxi driver, achieved some internet notoriety this week for a video in which he picked up passengers while a 10-foot albino python was in his cab in an effort to promote his new book. People’s reactions, understandably, ranged from “What the fuck is this doing here?” to “When I get out of this cab I’m going to kick your fucking ass,” and the city Taxi and Limo Commission said it’s considering revoking his license.
We caught up with Failla on a cab ride through midtown to ask about the public’s response to his video (he couldn’t drive, as he was worried no company would give him a car after the stunt). Watch the interview above.
A few things he wanted to clear up: these days, he doesn’t actually drive a cab very often — that’s why he doesn’t care if he loses his wheels — and, though it’s hard to tell in the video, there was a snake handler in the car with the passengers the entire time. Furthermore, every one of his victims who showed up in the video signed a release.
All in all, Failla says, he doesn’t have any regrets. Would he do it again? “Absolutely. A thousand five percent.”
(Video: Aymann Ismail/ANIMALNewYork)
