‘If it is to be, it is up to me’: How comedian Ernie G’s mantra has impacted lives, including his own

In the first two decades of the 2000s, Ernie G was on an upward trajectory.

The comedian shared the stand-up stage with fellow comics like Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, George Lopez and Felipe Esparza. He’d been on TV, stages throughout the U.S. and even cut a comedy CD.

Most recently, he’d been performing as an Empowerment Comedian, blending humor with an inspirational mental health message, primarily aimed at empowering students and the Latino community. Ernie G traveled throughout the U.S. to schools, non-profits, government agencies, corporations and more, for audiences ranging into the thousands.

His personal life was also looking good. A bachelor in his early 50s, he had recently married a single mom, and after a year and a half of marriage, they welcomed a baby into their family.

On December 29, 2021, Ernie G — the “G” is for Gritewsky — was on stage at the since-closed The Brews Hall in Hermosa Beach. As he finished his set, he suddenly keeled over, victim of a heart attack. Luckily, an ICU nurse was in the audience and began CPR with the help from other members of the audience. Despite three hits with the defibrillator, he was nonresponsive when paramedics loaded him into the ambulance.

He woke up in the hospital, alive and intubated. It was a period when COVID-19 was spiking, so he had to wait days to be admitted. Recovery was slow, and finally, nearly one and a half months later, he had triple bypass surgery to repair his heart.

This wasn’t the stand-up comedian’s first hospital stay. Months prior he underwent a diabetes-related surgery. As he was recovering at the hospital, a physician came into the room, recognizing Ernie G.

He had spoken at her high school a few years before and motivated her to continue her education, fulfill a dream and become a doctor.

“And that inspired me,” he said, pushing him to become a certified mental health coach.

This wasn’t the first, or last, time that a participant in one of his workshops — which encourages vulnerability, self-awareness and seeking help when needed — returned the favor and served as inspiration in his time of need.

How did the comedy veteran, whose act, peppered with self-deprecating gags about his name, ethnicity and being a single “mama’s boy,” pivot to speaking to students? 

“I loved entertaining comedy audiences, but everything changed the moment I stepped in front of a crowd at Stevenson's Middle School in East L.A.,” Ernie G remembers. “After the show, there's this long line of kids coming up to me and saying, ‘Mister, can I tell you something?’ And they started opening up, sharing their stories about their traumas, stories they've never told anyone.

“And the principal is sitting there and asks, ‘Can you do something with them, please?’”

The request: to spend an hour and a half with the students, creating a safe space for them to share their experiences, deep traumas and dreams. 

“I didn’t do a lot,” he remembers. “I just listened, allowing them to share, and I would guide them if they asked for guidance. What ended up happening was that the students guided each other and they began to heal together.”

Over time, Ernie G caught the attention of nonprofit organizations like Unidos US and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation; government agencies like California Children’s Services and the L.A. County Probation Department; and businesses, including Disney and the NBA. He even served as spokesperson of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

However, throughout his life, his heart has remained in serving youth, to inspire and uplift the next generation.   

“I had a B.S. in Psychology from Loyola Marymount, but after conducting hundreds and hundreds of these workshops, I decided to go back to school myself and take a certification course on becoming a mental health coach,” he says.

What started as a humble effort to create spaces where young people could feel seen and heard had now become his personal and professional mission, one that has resonated deeply on a much larger scale.

“These experiences taught me that the essence of true impact lies in fostering authentic connections and addressing the unspoken needs of those who long for understanding,” said Ernie G. “I realized that fostering a sense of belonging, especially among young people, could spark a movement toward healing — not just individually, but collectively. It wasn’t just about a laugh, it was about creating an oasis of understanding amidst the chaos of life.”

Of course, there were challenges along the way. The most impactful was the lockdown resulting from the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

With all upcoming gigs cancelled, he began to get calls from some of the parents of students he had worked with. 

“They were like, 'Ernie, my kids are staying up till 5 and 6 in the morning. Can you do something with them?’” he said. “So I set up a Zoom call on Monday for teenagers. I thought 10 kids would show up, and that first week, I had over 100 teenagers from all over the country chiming in.”

He quickly realized that the connection he was fostering through humor and shared experiences was a powerful tool for emotional healing. It was more than just entertaining — it was creating spaces where young people could open up, share their truths and feel genuinely supported.

“This became a cornerstone of my philosophy: laughter as a gateway to vulnerability and growth,” said Ernie G.

In those sessions, he learned to tailor his strategies to the unique challenges faced by the diverse communities he was reaching. Whether addressing mental health stigmas, navigating the pressures of adolescence or fostering resilience, the workshops evolved organically. Each participant brought their narrative, enriching the collective experience and providing invaluable insights that shaped their approach.

Then came the heart attack.

“It took me a year to recuperate,” he recalled, “and during that time I received a phone call from a student who had heard me perform at a Hispanic College Fund event. She remembered the phrase I repeat to all the students I speak to … ‘if it is to be, it is up to me’ … which compelled her to shoot for the stars.”

Her request: that Ernie G serve as the speaker at her Raza Graduation from James Madison University in Virginia.

Not allowing his fear of performing to take over he went for it and six months later he flew to Virginia, his family in tow, an experience that he calls one of the most beautiful moments of his life.

“I realized that I had a whole new message to give, not only is it about empowering ourselves, but physically taking care of ourselves,” he recalled. “I started just doing little things for myself here and there and now I'm back and I've been healthy for three years.”

That was another instance of a student returning the favor and serving as an inspiration to him when he was in need.

“Because I was so public about what happened to me, people have been hesitant to reach out to me.  So I've just been letting the organic nature of my career take hold. People are reaching out to me from all over the country,” he said, most recently at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, where the Indiana Pacers play. The Indiana Latino Institute flew him out for three education summits, each one attended by thousands of students.  

However, helping his own community is where his heart truly lies. “I was contracted by Best Start Wilmington, (speaking) not only to five-year-olds and their parents, but also their siblings,” he said. That connection, of course, was from someone who had heard Ernie G’s message, first as a student at Narbonne High, then at his graduation from Cal State Dominguez Hills.”

“I randomly messaged Ernie G on Facebook and he replied,” Robert Gomez, who now works for Kaiser Permanente, shared. “I see Ernie as being an advocate for mental health, particularly for students. He did a great job with his holistic approaches to mental health and how it improves  lives.”

Yvonne Teniente Cuello, dean of Student Services for Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, has brought Ernie G on campus to speak and deliver his mental health workshops multiple times. It’s a campus of 20,000 students, 60% of which identify as Latino. 

“Ernie G talks about mental health without the students knowing it’s mental health,” she said. “He talks about being grounded, being present, about setting little goals until they become a big goal.”

Nayeli Jaramillo is a graduating senior at CSUN, who first heard Ernie G when he came on campus to speak to a mental health group she was part of called Colita de Rana. “When I first heard him, I was having issues with my dad,” she recalled. “I shared my story with him and what he said helped me go on with my life.”  

Later, when she was facing economic hardship and feared she’d have to leave school, she received funds from the Ernie G Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to DACA and Dream students. He raises funds for the scholarship through his annual “Ernie G Comedy Fiesta,” where he invites fellow comics to perform.

Cognizant of what is currently happening in the community, he’ll be hosting another edition of his Comedy Fiesta, with the proceeds going to families impacted by the brutal enforcement by federal agents directed toward immigrants. It’s taking place this Saturday, July 12, at the Stand Up Comedy Club in Bellflower.

“Now, more than ever, our community’s under assault,” said Ernie G. “ What we’ve gone through, what we’re going through, with the wildfires and the immigration raids, having positive mental health support is critical.”

He views laughter as an integral part of the healing process.

“What started with a single performance at a middle school blossomed into something far greater than I could have imagined,” he said. “I realize there was this profound hunger, a silent yearning in young people, to be seen, to be heard, and to feel like someone genuinely cares.”

Seeing him surrounded by the happy smiles of the youth he’s spoken to, it is indisputable that Ernie G cares.

You can reach Ernie G via his website: https://www.ernieg.com/