The 2020 Golden Globes will forever be remembered for Ricky Gervais’ searing takedown of Hollywood elites, but last Thursday, the Al Smith charity dinner in New York City delivered its own share of memorable moments—though for different reasons. While Gervais famously called out celebrities for being out of touch, the focus at the Al Smith dinner was squarely on politics, where Vice President Kamala Harris’ glaring absence became a talking point of the night.
SPECTACULAR from Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes:
“If you do win an award tonight, don’t use it as a platform to make a political speech.
You are in NO POSITION to lecture the public about ANYTHING.
You know NOTHING about the real world.”
👏👏👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/o8MJ6oE1QD
— Theodora 🇬🇧🇮🇱🇺🇦 (@EmpressThea527) January 6, 2020
Traditionally, the Al Smith dinner is a gathering where political heavyweights and cultural icons come together to raise money for Catholic charities, and it’s an event known for humor, light jabs, and some much-needed levity during election season. But this year, the laughter came at the expense of Harris, who chose to submit a pre-recorded video rather than attend in person. This decision made her the first major candidate to skip the dinner since Walter Mondale in 1984. Despite efforts to make up for her absence, the video fell flat, with some attendees reportedly booing when it was announced that she wouldn’t be there.
President Trump to Chuck Schumer: “Considering how woke your party has become, if Kamala loses, you still have a chance to become the first woman president.”
🤣🤣🤣🤣
pic.twitter.com/MusYhgjkmI— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) October 18, 2024
Comedian Jim Gaffigan, who provided the evening’s comic relief, didn’t shy away from poking fun at Harris and her video message. His joke about Harris finding time to appear on shows like The View and Call Her Daddy was as funny as it was biting, reminding everyone of the vice president’s questionable priorities in the heat of the election campaign. It struck a chord because, as Gaffigan quipped, it’s 100% true—Harris has made time for many media appearances but skipped out on this longstanding bipartisan tradition. And with 22% of Americans identifying as Catholic, missing this key event in front of a significant voting bloc might not have been her wisest move.
What a photo pic.twitter.com/HOYO8m609Y
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 18, 2024
While Gaffigan’s roast touched on many political figures, including Joe Biden and Donald Trump, it was Harris who bore the brunt of the sharpest humor. The reference to her skipping the dinner while making other media appearances hit home, as did his joke about the “Biden Family,” which, like all good comedy, held a serious undertone. It was a night that highlighted both the humor and the absurdity of political life, but also one that served to remind attendees of how important this election is for shaping the country’s future.
“Unfortunately, Governor Walz isn’t here himself. But don’t worry, he’ll say that he was.” 🤣pic.twitter.com/fcfdfxNmJj
— Defiant World (@DefiantWorld) October 18, 2024
Donald Trump’s presence was also noteworthy. At one point, he was seen chatting with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, an interaction that initially looked cordial but quickly turned into more fodder for Gaffigan’s jokes. Trump, never one to miss an opportunity for a punchline, quipped about “White Men for Harris,” poking fun at the Democratic nominee’s struggles to connect with certain demographics. Schumer, caught in the moment, seemed to realize he might soon be the star of Republican attack ads based on his friendly exchange with the former president.
Boos at Al Smith dinner when it’s announced Kamala Harris “cannot make it here in person. We will be joined by her later via video” … pic.twitter.com/HLBmImJSNM
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) October 18, 2024
The night was supposed to be an opportunity for both sides to show a little humor and humanity, but Harris’ absence cast a shadow over what is typically a chance for bipartisanship and good-natured ribbing. Her video, characterized by some as overly serious and lacking the levity that the event is known for, further underscored that the Democrats’ so-called “campaign of joy” might be running on fumes.
