Comedian Nate Bargatze has recently responded to the fallout from his polarizing joke at the 2025 Emmys Awards. To provide context, while hosting, Bargatze said he would donate $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of America with one caveat: every time an award winner’s acceptance speech went over 45 seconds, he would subtract money from his donation.
To add to the bit, an onscreen timer appeared during some acceptance speeches that also showed the amount of money left from Bargatze’s donation. If a speaker went over time, viewers could watch money be subtracted from the donation in real time. Meanwhile, speakers that went under time added to the donation.
Some found this to be a subversive piece of comedy that poked fun at the idea of long-winded, self-congratulatory speeches. Others felt that the joke was out of place in a show dedicated to celebrating people’s accomplishments.
The Comedian Speaks Out
Ten days after hosting the Emmys, Bargatze addressed the controversy on his podcast Nateland. According to the New York Post, Bargatze specified that he didn’t actually intend on having less money donated to charity. The comedian explained that he believed the studios behind the recipients would cover the deduction if a speaker went over time, resulting in no money actually being lost.
Bargatze also claimed that he believed many of the people watching at home enjoyed the joke, but added that he could have done a better job of explaining the setup to the audience.
Following the controversy, Bargatze donated $250,000 to the foundation—over twice what his initial promise was.
Mixed Reactions on Social Media
The joke proved to be very polarizing on the internet, with some finding it funny and others finding it mean-spirited.
Much of the criticism centered around the idea that Bargatze was using guilt to force shorter speeches, and that doing so undermined the point of the event.
Some sites, like The Daily Beast, wrote scathing critiques of the gag, arguing that cutting the speeches almost ruins the event, as the speeches are often the most memorable parts. The article criticizes the perception of an award show being hosted by someone who doesn’t like award shows, while also noting several emotional moments that were cut short.
On social media, there are still a large number of people praising the joke, with various tweets highlighting the originality of the premise. Likewise, during the footage of the Emmys, it is clear many of the celebrities in the audience were laughing alongside Bargatze.
Ultimately, whether or not someone found the joke tasteful is a matter of personal preference. Still, given the polarizing response, it may be some time before Bargatze is asked to host again—even if his performance was anything but forgettable.
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