But I didn’t ask to have somebody nose around in my private life. I didn’t even ask to be famous. All I asked was to be able to earn a living making people laugh.

Burnett contrasts the simple, workmanlike aim of a performer—earning a living by making audiences laugh—with the intrusive costs that often accompany celebrity. The quote frames fame as an unintended byproduct rather than a goal, and it implicitly critiques a culture (and media economy) that treats public success as a license to invade privacy. Coming from a comedian whose craft depends on public affection, the statement underscores a boundary: the audience is owed the performance, not the performer’s personal life. It also highlights a common tension in entertainment—between the dignity of labor and the commodification of the self.