Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer got the last laugh during Sunday night's Emmy broadcast when he made a surprise appearance, but not everyone is enjoying the joke.
Spicer appeared briefly during the monologue — to stunned faces in the audience — complete with a moving podium. "This will be the largest audience to witness and Emmys, period," Spicer said. "Both in person and around the world."
Emmys host Stephen Colbert followed up the joke, commenting, "Wow, that really soothes my fragile ego. I can understand why you'd want one of these guys around."
Sure, Spicer poked fun at himself. But the joke wasn't about him. It was a joke about the lie he told during an impromptu press conference the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration in which he railed against the press for accurately reporting that the crowd at the event was significantly smaller than for President Barack Obama's inaguration.
While the celebrity crowd enjoyed Spicer being able to poke fun at himself in step one of PR rehab, his appearance did anger some people online, who noted that Spicer was celebrating his role as a liar to the American people.
Is it supposed to be comical that the former White House spokesman is now tacitly admitting that he lied to the American people?
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) September 18, 2017
Sorry to be a spoilsport, but I don't think it's funny that Spicer is tacitly admitting to his falsehoods and using it for image rehab
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) September 18, 2017
I'm not ready to laugh "with" Sean Spicer. I think he is an evil, opportunistic liar that hurt our country.
— Zach Braff (@zachbraff) September 18, 2017
Sean Spicer also reportedly played a role in pushing the conspiracy theory that "tormented" Seth Rich's family.
So yea, I'm not laughing. https://t.co/Doj53Lgb0A
— Caroline O. (@RVAwonk) September 18, 2017
Acting like Sean Spicer is just another funny guy is the same blurring of entertainment and politics that led to Trump becoming president.
— Murtaza Hussain (@MazMHussain) September 18, 2017
Memorializing Roger Ailes and lionizing Sean Spicer - who stands against the 1st Amendment and our craft - the Emmys lost all credibility pic.twitter.com/ZLuyGLPG9j
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) September 18, 2017
Five months ago, Sean Spicer denied that Hitler gassed people during the Holocaust. Sorry, but I'm not seeing the humor in that... https://t.co/6ChkFMjl6X
— Caroline O. (@RVAwonk) September 18, 2017
Had to turn it off. My industry hanging with Sean Spicer and honoring Roger Ailes made me depressed. #Emmy
— Lexi Alexander (@Lexialex) September 18, 2017
The degree to which Sean Spicer has faced no consequences is a glimpse into the post-Trump future.
— Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) September 18, 2017
Others were quick to point out a double standard. Notably, why was Spicer welcomed, while Hillary Clinton has been shunned as she went on her book tour?
Steve Bannon got a 60 Minutes feature & Sean Spicer got an #Emmys cameo, but Hillary Clinton needs to "shut up & go away"? Mmkay.
— Sarah Lerner (@SarahLerner) September 18, 2017
Just to be clear:
We're not sick of Sean Spicer, but we are sick of Hillary Clinton?
And you wonder how we ended up with Donald Trump?
— Anson Kaye (@AEWK) September 18, 2017
On Monday morning, the reports were about how funny Spicer was, but it's worth noting that he still has never admitted he lied to anyone.
Not seeing a lot of reporters demand Sean Spicer take responsibility for his mistakes
— heated gamer (@jesseltaylor) September 18, 2017
Shares