Emmys Host Nate Bargatze Defends Controversial Stunt

Comedian Nate Bargatze recently made headlines for his charity stunt at the Emmy Awards, where he threatened to reduce a $100,000 donation for every second a winner’s acceptance speech went over the allocated time. Addressing the controversy on his Nateland podcast, Bargatze explained that the idea behind the deduction came from a genuine desire to bring some fun to the show, rather than to put anyone on the spot or force them to donate money.

While some critics labeled the gimmick as crass and insufferable, Bargatze defended his intentions, highlighting that he hoped stars would use the opportunity to exceed their time limit intentionally in order to contribute more to the Boys & Girls Club of America. He even anticipated that winners would aim for brief speeches to help him meet his pledge if they kept their remarks under 45 seconds.

One notable participant was John Oliver, who cheekily kept a speech to just 19 seconds to “cost Nate Bargatze money personally,” as he humorously shared on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Despite mixed reactions to the fluctuating donations, Bargatze insisted that he never intended to withhold funds from the charity, even if the initial $100,000 commitment decreased to zero due to the extended speeches.

To show their support, CBS, the network that aired the Emmys, generously added an extra $100,000 on top of Bargatze’s raised donation of $250,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In the end, what started as a lighthearted stunt turned into a significant contribution for a worthy cause, proving that even well-intentioned actions can sometimes spark debate.