Looking back, Seth Rogen muses that he might have been a rather "superbad" presenter. While he took to the Emmys stage in September as a four-time winner, the actor from *The Studio* hasn't been tapped to introduce an award at the ceremony since 2021. He now views his impromptu, off-script antics as the reason he hasn't been invited back. "I do have that theory," Seth confessed on the October 6 episode of *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* "I presented there, I think, four years ago now, and I haven't been invited back since."
So, what exactly went down at the 2021 Emmy Awards that cost him a presenting role? It was over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, and the *Superbad* alum couldn't resist joking about the safety protocols inside the makeshift tent erected on L.A. Live’s Event Deck, where some 600 people had gathered to witness the awards. "Let me start by saying there are way too many of us crammed into this tiny room," the 43-year-old quipped from the stage. "What are we doing here? They promised this was an outdoor event. It's not. They lied to us! We’re trapped in a hermetically sealed tent. I wouldn’t have shown up if I’d known. Why does this thing even have a roof?"
Four years on, Seth stands firmly by his remarks. "It was all true!" he declared to Jimmy Kimmel. "They flat-out lied. The invitation said 'Outdoor Event,' and I was all set to deliver the cheesy, pre-written lines they’d prepared. But then I arrived and realized, 'Wait a minute—we’re inside a tent! I can’t just pretend this isn’t happening.'"
The *Pineapple Express* star went on, "The producers were visibly furious with me afterward."
As for the truth behind Seth’s theory, Jimmy claimed to have done some digging. "I checked today since I’ve hosted the Emmys a few times myself," the late-night host revealed, "and it turns out you’re officially banned from presenting."
Seth chuckled before responding, "So, I’ve been blacklisted."
But he gets why that might be the case. "I went completely off-script and made them look bad," he admitted. "I can see why they’d hold that against me."
While Emmy officials have remained silent on Kimmel and Rogen’s comments, 2021 show co-producer Ian Stewart offered a different perspective, suggesting the *Freaks and Geeks* alum had been fully aware of the tent setup prior to the show due to rehearsals. "We spent months ensuring that space was safe," the producer told *Variety* in September 2021. "We collaborated with every health authority imaginable. We had approval from LA County. We developed a meticulous plan with them. The tables were spaced apart. Everyone in attendance was vaccinated. Everyone tested negative. Plus, he’d rehearsed—he knew exactly what to expect."
Seth’s "unfortunate misstep," Ian continued, "made three months of exhaustive effort and countless discussions to perfect every detail feel somewhat undermined."
