Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer made a surprise appearance at the 2017 Emmy Awards and caused reporters to lose it.
Emmy host Stephen Colbert introduced Spicer, who entered the stage on a mobile podium similar to the one Melissa McCarthy used on "Saturday Night Live" to mock the former press secretary. Spicer took the opportunity to mock himself, and joked that the 2017 Emmy's would have the "largest audience ever," in reference to his earlier claim that President Donald Trump's inauguration had the biggest audience.
"This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys, period! Both in person and around the world," said Spicer.
Reporters didn't find it funny.
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
Power is all about who gets forgiven. Who gets fresh starts.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) September 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/SarahLerner/status/909577623352643584
Shame on the Emmys for the Spicer validation. He is dedicated to demeaning our craft and restricting our freedoms of speech. #Unforgivable
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) September 18, 2017
enjoying all these awards for Resisting Trump Bravely With Art after the show asked us to laugh with Sean Spicer
— Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) September 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/joannarothkopf/status/909572179871879168
Emmys helped Spicer pump up his "lecture" fees which is all that matters to him now. https://t.co/nzo5n8VuYx
— Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) September 18, 2017
Washington Post reporter Aaron Blake sent out a flurry of tweets decrying the "normalization" of Spicer.
https://twitter.com/AaronBlake/status/909571889873514496
https://twitter.com/AaronBlake/status/909574096027037697
https://twitter.com/AaronBlake/status/909576517788762112
CNN editor Chris Cillizza condemned Spicer's appearance in an "analysis" Monday. Cillizza said Hollywood "enabled" Spicer who was there joking about how he knowingly lied to the American people.
Former foreign policy adviser to President Barack Obama and failed novelist Ben Rhodes noted Spicer's Emmy appearance was "interesting."
Interesting choice by Emmys to let someone joke about demonstrably lying to the American people on behalf of the most powerful person in US
— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) September 18, 2017
Rhodes admitted in 2016 to manipulating and lying to reporters to create an echo chamber that helped the Obama administration to sell the Iran deal. At that time, reporters weren't quick to denounce Rhodes or caution against normalizing him.