EXCLUSIVE - Who is Bowser, really? A cultural icon as American as yakitori, Bowser has been in our lives for decades, but he’s only just recently showing sides of himself outside of his villain persona.
The last time ASS News sat down with Bowser, he became very defensive against claims of his son being a "nepo baby" and eventually walked out of the interview. So, when we reached out to discuss doing a profile ahead of the release of his new film, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Bowser agreed to speak under one condition: we do not bring up his son.
On the morning of the interview, we received a text from Bowser informing us he was to stop by Krispy Kreme doughnuts before arriving at our building and asked if we wanted anything. Though I’m not one for Krispy Kreme doughnuts, I didn’t want to start our interaction on the wrong foot so I took him up on his offer. "That’s very kind of you," I replied. "I’ll take one glazed original please."
Thirty minutes later when Bowser arrived at the office, he was holding a single maple bar. I did not want to inject unnecessary friction into our interview, so I did not ask about the doughnut, but there were clearly games being played by Bowser from the start.
Despite the doughnut-shaped elephant in the room, our conversation was flowing and there were the typical niceties you’d expect in a conversation between two acquaintances.
We discussed his work in the film, how proud he is of his performance and whether or not this might lead to future opportunities, but that’s where the interview took a turn:
ASS News:
“So you wouldn’t exactly turn down Dancing with the Stars-”
Bowser:
“Did you like my son’s performance in the film?”
ASS News:
“Um… yes, I did. I thought he was very good-"
Bowser:
“So he held his own, right? You don’t think he got the part just because he’s my son, right?"
Just like the doughnut mishap from earlier, Bowser was trying to get a reaction out of me. Prior to the interview, he requested his son be off limits, which now in hindsight I see was an attempt to catch us flat footed.
ASS News:
“I’m happy to talk about Bower Jr. if you’d like, I just thought-”
Bowser:
“You just thought. HA. That’s rich."
ASS News:
“Well, look, if you want to go there, the facts speak for themselves: Bowser Jr. would not have the opportunity afforded to him-"
Bowser:
“Oh, shut up! No one cares! He’s good at what he does! And if you thought we were going to sit down and have a nice conversation without me standing up for my son, you were sorely mistaken."
ASS News:
“Okay, I think this has reached its natural conclusion-"
Bowser:
“It’s ‘Original Glazed,’ by the way. Dumbass. Not ‘Glazed Original.’"
At this point, Bowser once again ripped off his mic and stormed out of the room.
While he is an icon and a villain, it’s clear the one role Bowser cares most about is father.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opens in theaters on April 1, 2026.