Former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer crashed Stephen Colbert‘s Emmys monologue Sunday to roast his former boss, President Donald Trump.
“This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys, period, both in person and around the world,” Spicer said, hearkening back to his January press conference where he indirectly coined the phrase “alternative facts”—and argued with reporters about the president’s inauguration crowd.
.@seanspicer borrows @melissamccarthy's podium for a surprise appearance at the #Emmys pic.twitter.com/xGOezHygVa
— Variety (@Variety) September 18, 2017
Melissa McCarthy, who famously impersonated Spicer on Saturday Night Live, was in shock when Spicer made his cameo.
The 45-year-old Massachusetts Republican left the Trump White House in July.
Melissa mccarthy's face when Sean spicer comes on stage is everything #emmys2017 pic.twitter.com/YXJJAuZVdP
— Saba Hamedy (@saba_h) September 18, 2017
But Twitter was upset that the exiled staffer was given a platform to be funny. Was it too soon, or appropriate at all, to let such a controversial politician skate onstage for a yuck? Or was the noisy bit worth the inherent redemption it brings to Spicer for being able to laugh it off?
Ugh NO to Sean Spicer. It's so great that we can embrace someone who used a powerful position to abuse the press and lie to America.
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) September 18, 2017
The degree to which Sean Spicer has faced no consequences is a glimpse into the post-Trump future.
— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) September 18, 2017
Trying to normalize Sean Spicer already? #Emmys pic.twitter.com/47SEoUKNfj
— Gabe Ortíz (@TUSK81) September 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/ira/status/909571863931633666
Sean Spicer lied for MONTHSSSS and now he's up there on the #Emmys stage. pic.twitter.com/artgntiOH0
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) September 18, 2017