Colbert: Justice Scalia loved my humor, even rude gesture

On Monday night’s “The Late Show,” Stephen Colbert told of his single brush with the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia — and how he came to admire him despite the judge’s politics.

Scalia gave the funnyman an affirmation after the White House Correspondents Dinner 10 years ago, where as host Colbert did a rude Italian gesture toward guest Scalia.

Colbert said Scalia was the only one to approach him after the comedic set, and gave his hearty approval to the humorous act.

“Whether or not you agreed with him — or made a lot of jokes about him, like I did — one thing you’ve got to admit is that he had a great sense of humor,” Colbert said.

He concluded the tribute his recollection: “Don’t you make me love you, old man. … Justice Scalia, I salute you.”

Other reactions:

Colbert is a class act.

As was Scalia.https://t.co/yi53PMudWy

— AJ, but online (@ajchavar) February 16, 2016

Say what you will about Scalia, he laughed like a hyaena through Colbert’s justly famous 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner speech.

— Zack Stentz (@MuseZack) February 14, 2016

Colbert says hello to Scalia in the same polite way Scalia addressed the presshttps://t.co/PSK8nzNlWL

— Robbie Martin (@FluorescentGrey) February 13, 2016

Stephen Colbert remembers the time Antonin Scalia loved being insulted by the comedian https://t.co/nyqcbhr5O6 pic.twitter.com/kgrgU6FGre

— Business Insider (@businessinsider) February 16, 2016

I’m not cool with people like Colbert trying to humanize Scalia when he made clear with his rulings he didn’t think I was human.

— Coma Kid (@SRAhasAPosse) February 16, 2016

Listening to Colbert talk up Scalia just to get to see Craig Ferguson, like a guy listening to a hot but stupid girl

— Wiener(dog)whisperer (@sucre_nips) February 16, 2016

Colbert’s remembrance of Antonin Scalia is probably the best way anybody in that position could have handled it.

— bart (@bart_smith) February 16, 2016

@CBS I’m watching Colbert. His Antonin Scalia speech makes me want to watch The Correspondant’s Dinner again. @colbertlateshow #LSSC

— Mallen 181 (@Mallen1811) February 16, 2016

Scalia was the only butt of Colbert’s jokes to have a sense of humor about it at the 06 correspondents’ dinner. He was cool for one night.

— M. F. (@bklynMF) February 13, 2016