Upon receiving backlash for his offensive jokes about the disgraced producer's sexual harassment scandal, James says he wanted to 'shame him, the abuser, not his victims.'
- Oct 16, 2017
AceShowbiz - James Corden has issued an apology after receiving backlash for the jokes he made about fallen Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein while hosting the eighth annual amfAR gala in Beverly Hills. The 39-year-old host took to his Twitter account to post a series of messages in which he said, "To be clear, sexual assault is no laughing matter."
"I was not trying to make light of Harvey's inexcusable behavior," so "The Late Late Show with James Corden" host explained about his offensive jokes, adding in the Sunday, October 15 posts, "but to shame him, the abuser, not his victims. I am truly sorry for anyone offended, that was never my intention."
To be clear, sexual assault is no laughing matter. I was not trying to make light of Harvey’s inexcusable behavior, (1/2)
— James Corden (@JKCorden) October 15, 2017
but to shame him, the abuser, not his victims. I am truly sorry for anyone offended, that was never my intention. (2/2)
— James Corden (@JKCorden) October 15, 2017
James delivered a series of jokes which centered around the ongoing sexual harassment scandal surrounding Harvey when he emceed the annual gala on Friday, October 13. "This is a beautiful room, this is a beautiful night here in L.A. It's so beautiful that Harvey Weinstein has already asked tonight up to his hotel to give him a massage," the father of two said to the crowd at one point.
While the comedian's jokes did get some laughter, it also got some audible groans from the audience. In his speech, as seen in a video shared by a writer from The Hollywood Reporter, James told the crowd, "I don't know whether that groan was that you liked that joke, or you don't like the joke. If you don't like the joke, you should probably leave right now."
Straight out gate, host @JKCorden with Harvey Weinstein jokes. Too soon? Some laughs, some groans #amfARLosAngeles pic.twitter.com/nx88w5UwUe
— Chris Gardner (@chrissgardner) October 14, 2017
James continued joking, "It has been weird this week watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water. Ask any of the women who watched him take a bath, its weird watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water." He even made light of Lauren Sivan's account of her experience with the disgraced producer. "Harvey Weinstein wanted to come tonight, but he'll settle for whatever potted plant is closest."
In response to James' awful jokes, many took to Twitter to blast the comedian. Among those were Asia Argento and Rose McGowan, who previously claimed that Harvey raped her. "Shame on this pig and everyone who grunted with him," wrote Asia, while McGowan called the comedian "MOTHERF***ING PIGLET."
Shame on this pig and everyone who grunted with him #amfARLosAngeles https://t.co/0SujRNCzd9
— Asia Argento (@AsiaArgento) October 15, 2017
YOU MOTHERFUCKING PIGLET https://t.co/UU9LitO9zJ
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) October 15, 2017
