At an awards show hosted by the clean-comedian Nate Bargatze, renowned for steering clear of foul language in his stand-up routines, the 2025 Emmys took an unexpected turn with a surprisingly high volume of f-bombs. Throughout the CBS telecast of Sunday night’s glittering ceremony, the sound was muted multiple times for home viewers, as a string of winners liberally sprinkled their acceptance speeches with curse words. At one memorable juncture, Bargatze even quipped that he was considering starting a swear jar.
So, what exactly did those bleeped-out winners say? Read on to uncover the colorful details.
Hannah Einbinder
The star of Hacks, who clinched the Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy award—her first Emmy for her stellar work in the fourth season of the Max series—wrapped up her speech with some pointed political commentary. While her impassioned “free Palestine” cry stole the headlines, she also didn’t hold back before that, declaring “Fuck ICE” with conviction. She was calling out the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which has been particularly active during Donald Trump’s second term as the president has pressed for sweeping deportations of suspected illegal immigrants.
John Oliver
The Last Week Tonight host continued his Emmys winning streak, snagging his third consecutive trophy in the scripted variety series category after his HBO show was reclassified. Ascending the stage to accept his award, Oliver spoke at a breakneck pace, seemingly in a race against the clock to fit his entire speech within the allotted time—especially after Bargatze had announced that lengthy speeches would result in deductions from a charitable donation to the Boys and Girls Club. “Fuck you, Nate Bargatze, that’s a lot of money for you!” Oliver exclaimed, nearing the end of his remarks. “And you can toss a ‘fuck’ into the swear jar while you’re at it.”
Erin Doherty
The Adolescence actress, who took home the Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series award, lavished praise on her award-winning colleagues Owen Cooper and Stephen Graham, as well as her family members, before extending her gratitude to the Television Academy. Turning to the awards organization, she declared, “you’re all fucking stunning.”
Seth Rogen
Rogen walked away with multiple awards on Sunday night, but it was during his final prize acceptance for Best Comedy Series for The Studio that he colorfully voiced his regret for taking so much money away from Bargatze’s donation. (Fear not, as the host announced at the show’s conclusion that the Boys and Girls Club would still receive a $350,000 donation after all.) After expressing his heartfelt gratitude for all the love shown to The Studio, Rogen joked, “If anyone else wants to chime in, we’re already in the red. We’ve royally screwed over the Boys and Girls Club, so…”
