The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards honored the finest of television—but also fueled discussions of surprise censorship. Comedians Hannah Einbinder and John Oliver were censored in their acceptance speeches at the live telecast, with audiences left puzzled and scrambling to find out what they said.
John Oliver’s Speech Sparks Online Curiosity
John Oliver took Outstanding Scripted Variety Series for Last Week Tonight, his second Emmy. But his 15-second acceptance was quickly making headlines—albeit not because of its brevity, but because it was censored twice on broadcast.
Twitter users were quick to post the uncensored version. Oliver allegedly quipped to other comedian Nate Bargatze, saying:
“F–k you, Nate Bargatze, that’s a lot of money for you – and you can put a f— in the swear jar too.”
The Emmy Awards interrupting John Oliver’s dog eulogy. “This is for all dogs!” #Emmys #EmmyAwards #johnoliver @TheEmmys pic.twitter.com/qdNdXz7ixX
— Reshma Gopaldas (@reshingbull) September 16, 2024
Although the joke obviously was meant as a sarcasm, the harsh language caused the broadcast to be bleeped, leaving viewers perplexed. Some speculated whether it was for political content as Oliver is known for his outspoken views.
john oliver speech was like 15 seconds and it was still edited twice on CBS
— Adrian Russell (@tbirdad) September 15, 2025
Hannah Einbinder’s Political Message Muted
Hacks star Hannah Einbinder took home the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series award—her first Emmy victory after multiple nominations. She started off her speech with humor, making light of losing in the past:
“I was really devoted to the story that it was cooler to keep on losing—but this is cool too!”
Though, her last line—”Go Birds, f— ICE, and free Palestine”—was silenced during the broadcast. The moment caused buzz, especially as she also had a red Artists4Ceasefire pin on, indicating her position on the Gaza conflict.
Also Read: Jenna Ortega’s See-Through Emmy Gown is a Tribute to Isabella Rossellini’s Timeless Style
Censorship or Glitch
The moments sparked controversy online, with the fans speculating whether the censorship was because of profanity or political content, or simply streaming errors. In either case, both instances had audiences buzzing well after the credits ended.
