The 2026 Emmy Awards had many highlights. It included both laughter and tears, but one moment was missing for viewers. Why? Because Emmy broadcasters cut it for its explicit content.
The controversial joke came when actor and stand-up comedian John Mulaney took the stage at the Peacock Theater during the 2026 Emmy Awards.
He presented the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and began his monologue by sarcastically celebrating men’s achievements.
Mulaney called his category the “best part of the night,” adding, “Since the creation of television, men have been historically unrepresented.”
The actor explained why the nominees — Noah Wyle, who won for his role in The Pitt, Mark Ruffalo, Sterling K. Brown, Gary Oldman, and Rufus Sewell — embodied men.
However, the joke referenced controversial comments DJ Khaled had previously made, which made the room erupt in laughter.
The comedian continued poking fun at the nominated actors, saying: “Some of the men in this category do Method acting, and some do regular, less annoying acting.” But no matter what, when these fellas hit their mark, they know all their lines. Why? Because they started looking at their sides earlier that morning.”
John Mulaney takes aim at DJ Khaled over 2014 comment during the Emmys
Mulaney continued: “These men give it all in every single take. Unless the coverage is on the other actor, and then they might bounce early, but that’s okay.”
After that, Mulaney turned his attention to DJ Khaled. In 2014, during an interview with New York Power 105.1’s Breakfast Club, DJ Khaled said, “If you holding it down for your woman, I feel like the woman should praise,” and added that “a man should praise the queen.”
He further said he would “never” perform oral sex on a woman.
“You gotta understand, I’m the don. I’m the king,” the singer continued. “It’s different rules for men. We the king so there’s some things y’all might not wanna do, [but] it gotta get done. I just can’t do what you want me to do. I just can’t.”
So, because of that, Mulaney continued his Emmy monologue by referring to DJ Khaled when he said, “Real men don’t go down on their wife. These nominees know that that is BS. They know there’s often less pressure on them if they do that first.”
Why the controversial DJ Khaled joke was cut from broadcast
On X, many viewers praised the joke.
“This was a highlight,” one user said, while another added, “Funniest segment of the night.”
A third wrote, “I hate to say it but bros still got it I was cackling the whole time he was on stage.”
However, it didn’t land with everyone. According to Entertainment Weekly, the joke was bleeped on the broadcast. Emmy producers later revealed that the joke wasn’t part of Mulaney’s rehearsed routine.
Per Entertainment Weekly, producers knew Mulaney had rehearsed his segment but had no warning that he planned to make the not-so-family-friendly reference.
“John’s gonna do John!” executive producer Jeannae Rouzan-Clay said afterward, per Variety.
NBCUniversal executive Jen Neal explained that live TV comes with different standards, especially when the broadcast is meant to be family-friendly.
“The rules are the rules,” she said.
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