Yahoo News James Corden earns 'groans' from Hollywood after opening charity gala with Harvey Weinstein jokes
James Corden has been slammed after opening the AmfAR Gala with ‘cheap jokes’ about disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.
The Late Late Show host was reportedly met with a series of ‘groans’ by the A-list audience in LA on Friday night after making light of the sexual abuse allegations made against Weinstein during his opening monologue.
‘It’s a beautiful night here in L.A. So beautiful, Harvey Weinstein has already asked tonight up to his hotel to give him a massage,’ he started.
When the gag received a mixed reaction and some ‘nervous groans’ from the audience, according to Variety, he told the audience: ‘If you don’t like that joke, you should probably leave now.’
He continued: ‘It has been weird this week though, watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water. Ask any of the women who watched him take a bath.
‘Harvey Weinstein wanted to come tonight, but he’ll settle for whatever potted plant is closest.’
While official footage of the event has yet to be broadcast, mobile phone-shot footage has been doing the rounds on Twitter, with many people disgusted at Corden.
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
One Twitter user wrote: ‘Imagine sitting in an exclusive event and f***in *James Corden* telling you ‘if you don’t like my rape jokes leave now’.
Another raged: ‘F*** James Corden and his painfully unfunny attempts at mining other people’s trauma for cheap jokes.’
And another commented: ‘Jesus wept, James Corden. “Some topical sexual abuse gags, they’ll go down well”. Prick.’
A-listers present on the night included Tom Hanks, Chris Martin, Julia Roberts, Sean Penn and Kate Hudson.
Corden’s jokes came as Weinstein was expelled from the Academy Of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences following a vote by its board.
Over 35 women have now accused the movie mogul of either sexual harassment, assault or rape. Weinstein has apologised for elements of his past behaviour but strongly denies any claims of non-consensual sex.
Police forces in both the US and the UK have announced that they are investigating the allegations.
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