James Corden couldn’t win an election for dogcatcher after letting his Grammy constituents down by an outright claim that Barack Obama was about to be a presenter.
The awards-show host is being hit hard for his way of introducing Neil Portnow, president and CEO of the Santa Monica-based Recording Academy (formerly the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences).
“Over the last eight years this man brought us hope and change. If you asked him if something was possible he said ‘yes we can.’ Ladies and gentlemen, the 44th president of — wait, wait, no, I didn’t read all the way down, that’s my mistake. That one’s on me.”
(In fact, Portnow became the president of NARAS in 2002.)
Vanity Fair said: “Corden’s bit about Barack Obama potentially coming out as a presenter … really seemed to bum out the audience, who might have been particularly susceptible at that late stage of the night.”
Given the fact that Hillary Clinton made a cameo, it wasn’t a stretch to think that Obama would show as well.
Corden in July 2016 had Michelle Obama on his “Carpool Karaoke” series. But he’s not likely to land her husband soon.
James Corden, that was both unfunny and cruel. You don’t ever joke about Barack Obama being present. Not at a time like this.#GRAMMYs
— Charlotte Clymer????️???? (@cmclymer) January 29, 2018
James played with our emotions and had us all thinking Obama was at the show. https://t.co/WzLtDFyvBs
— 103 JAMZ (@103JAMZRADIO) January 29, 2018
If Obama had actually walked up on that Grammy stage I would have cried. James Corden is an evil man
— Adelaide M. (@adelaide__joy) January 29, 2018
Yo…James Corden, I’ma let you finish…but if you ever again tease us with a President Obama appearance and don’t deliver… #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/0CPjWb9hA8
— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) January 29, 2018
Ok James Corden. That Obama joke wasn’t cool. Got my hopes up for absolutely nothing. #grammys pic.twitter.com/aC1apSZUsU
— Middle Aged Gambino (@bored_in_jersey) January 29, 2018
Can someone tell James Corden that he’s great but that joke about Obama coming up was NOT funny I got way too hype
— Samantha Rose (@_smandel_) January 29, 2018
James Corden should know you can’t fake people out when it comes to Barack Obama. Hate him so much right now. #GRAMMYs
— Alexia Fernandez (@alexiafedz) January 29, 2018
james corden made me cry bc i thought obama was gonna be on the #grammys pic.twitter.com/aTklQ8CMjj
— anna ????♀️ (@annaebock) January 29, 2018
I outta slap James Corden, LOL!! I almost had a heart attack and ran for my phone to record when he said “please welcome, the 44th Pres.” Dont mess with my #44! #Obama #PresidentObama #BarackObama #Grammys2018 #Grammys pic.twitter.com/GeSNfOV301
— Shea (@SheaDva) January 29, 2018
When you think Obama has come back for the country to save us but really, it was just James Corden trolling #Grammys
— Holland (@hollz_says) January 29, 2018
