James Corden Denies Kissing Sean Spicer — Then Apologizes, Sort of

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‘In the Spirit of Sean Spicer’

The internet was ablaze on Monday with debate over whether the Emmys broadcast — and the after-parties that followed — had helped rehabilitate the image of the former White House press secretary Sean Spicer. James Corden was in one of the most incriminating photographs, caught trying to give Mr. Spicer a kiss on the cheek.

On “The Late Late Show” on Monday, Mr. Corden first tried denying it, taking a page from the Spicer-Trump playbook.

“Now, I know you think that’s a picture of me kissing Sean Spicer, but in the spirit of Sean Spicer, no, it isn’t.” — JAMES CORDEN

Then he tried an excuse: He’d been too inebriated to know what he was doing.

“Anyone ever have that feeling when you get a little drunk and then wake up the next morning and think, ‘Oh, God, who did I kiss last night?’ It’s a bit like that.” — JAMES CORDEN

“To be fair, everyone was kissing ass last night, I just happened to kiss the biggest one there.” — JAMES CORDEN

Finally, Mr. Corden showed about a dozen images of himself kissing other celebrities, suggesting that he hadn’t given any special love to Mr. Spicer (nor shown any particular restraint around him). “Basically, what I’m saying is, I need to learn how to shake hands,” Mr. Corden said.

Trump at the U.N.

President Trump attended the first United Nations meeting of his presidency on Monday. Jimmy Kimmel said the simple fact of Mr. Trump’s attendance was borderline remarkable.

“He had a meeting this morning at the United Nations — it was his first U.N. meeting since taking office. I’m impressed he even showed up. I just assumed he’d go to Epcot Center on the way to Mar-a-Lago and say he met all the countries in the It’s a Small World ride or something.” — JIMMY KIMMEL

“Today in New York, President Trump spoke before the United Nations General Assembly. It was kind of an awkward moment when Trump looked into the audience and said, ‘How the hell did you people get into this country?’” — CONAN O’BRIEN

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