Craig Ferguson, the former host of “The Late Late Show,” delivered a monologue in 2007 in which he defended his decision not to joke about Britney Spears following her widely reported breakdown. The monologue has since gone viral on social media. The video was shared once again on Twitter after the documentary “Framing Britney Spears,” which was created by the New York Times and examines the life of the “Princess of Pop,” as well as the battle for control of her estate. After Spears shaved her head with electric clippers in front of dozens of paparazzi, the media turned her into a laughing stock; nevertheless, Ferguson refused to make fun of her in what is now considered to be an iconic late-night scene.
“Framing Britney Spears functions as a kind of time capsule of all the casual sexism that we, as a society, thought it was perfectly okay to hurl at young girls in the early 2000s.” https://t.co/ntz5XJM91j
— Vogue Magazine (@voguemagazine) February 8, 2021
The television host, who was born in Scotland and won the Peabody Award for his work, delivered a nearly 13-minute monologue in which he apologized for making jokes about celebrities in the past and appealed for pity and understanding for Spears.
Why the fk did they laugh when he said Anna Nicole smith died???? pic.twitter.com/SYnY6Lr6Zi
— Another One of “The Blax” (@jubilantsleep) February 9, 2021
When the audience in the studio chuckled at Ferguson’s reference of Anna Nicole Smith, a former Playboy playmate who died of a heroin overdose at the age of 39 just weeks before Britney Spears’ iconic meltdown, Ferguson instantly responded: “It’s not a joke. It stops being funny. I’m starting to feel uncomfortable about making fun of these people. For me, comedy should have a certain amount of joy in it. It should be about always attacking the powerful people — attacking the politicians, and the Trumps, and the blowhards. Go after them! We shouldn’t be attacking the vulnerable people!”
We had a conversation about this moment a little more than a year ago. https://t.co/kkmtWZ4lVG
— Robert Lloyd (@LATimesTVLloyd) February 9, 2021
When they all seemed to be expecting the comedian to switch gears and start making fun of Spears. Ferguson stunned the crowd by reflecting on his own past of drinking and hinting that maybe the “Toxic” star needed help.
Never forget when Craig Ferguson refused to make fun of Britney Spears. pic.twitter.com/r8AuiNPW0L
— Britney Fan 🌹 (@BritneyHiatus) February 9, 2021
Check out his viral video