Watts, 54, is accused in the article of encouraging McCollough, 36, to take part in “reckless” recreational use of the drug ketamine, among others. Watts has long been a proponent of the ketamine and various psychedelics as conducive to higher consciousness, but the article alleges that Watts urged McCollough to indulge to the extent that she suffered a drug-induced breakdown while on vacation with Watts in Munich last summer. In March of 2026, following the end of their relationship the previous October, McCollough ended her life in a Lima, Peru hotel room.
While representatives for Watts have called the Rolling Stone article “dangerously false,” the piece also documented claims from five other ex-girlfriends who made similar claims that Watts pushed them past their boundaries with drugs and, in several cases, engaged in non-consensual acts.
Watts has denied those claims, but that hasn’t stopped venerable podcast Comedy Bang! Bang! from quietly dropping its recognizable Watts-penned theme song, which has opened every episode since 2011. Monday’s episode of the Scott Aukerman-hosted podcast omitted a theme song entirely, with an unknown female British voice introducing the show featuring Portlandia stars Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein. Neither Aukerman nor Comedy Bang! Bang! have responded to questions about the decision.
Meanwhile, Watts has seen several UK music festivals cancel upcoming appearances, as both Shambala and Greenbelt have removed Watts’ name from their announced lineups. According to Stereogum, Irish festival Electric Picnic has likewise deleted Watts from their website, while a planned engagement in Bristol with experimental dance band CAPYAC has also been cancelled.
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