Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Amy Schumer Says Secret Service Called Her After Her Kirsten Dunst 'Seat Filler' Joke Due To Death Threats

Amy Schumer Says Secret Service Called Her After Her Kirsten Dunst 'Seat Filler' Joke Due To Death Threats
Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images; P. Lehman/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Comedian Amy Schumer, one of the three comedian hosts at March's Academy Awards Ceremony, revealed she received death threats so severe after the show the Secret Service contacted her.

Schumer seemingly did everything right in preparing to host the internationally televised event. She explained to talk show host Howard Stern during an interview she even reached out to every attendee she wrote into her bit before the event to get their permission for the jokes.


Even though Kirsten Dunst—Oscar nominee and lead actress in the film Power of the Dog—was in on Schumer's bit and approved it ahead of time, Dunst fans still came for the comedian.

In her interview with Stern, she said:

"To be honest, I did reach out to people I was going to joke about before and make sure it was okay with them because I've been burned too many times on the camera."

Schumer said she informed the Willams sisters, Will Smith and Leonardo DiCaprio of her disses, and they all gave her the green light. She informed Dunst too.

She said:

"I did a bit with Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemmons that was completely orchestrated."
"We talked beforehand."
"You know the joke was that I was pretending like I thought she was a seat filler, and you know we all worked that out together."

She continued:

"I got death threats ... They were so bad that the Secret Service reached out."

Watch the video below:

youtu.be

Listeners were shocked at the backlash against Schumer.

One person tweeted:

"In our radically humorless time, not only do many people not like jokes - they can’t tell when something is a joke."
"Smith assaults Rock, audience threatens Schumer."

Another person wrote:

"So as a comedian you can't roast anyone or risk getting slapped in the face or death threats."
"Hmm, not a good time to be a comedian."

Someone else noted:

"No one should receive death threats no matter how much you don’t like her jokes."
"Just don’t watch her if it triggers such animosity."


Nervous-Ness/YouTube


Nick B/YouTube

Schumer's joke was that Dunst was merely a seat filler at the ceremony, there to make the room look packed.

Fans of the Power of the Dog actress were apparently upset Schumer was "disrespecting" the actress. Dunst later posted in Schumer's defense, explaining she approved of the joke ahead of time because she knew the comedian was receiving death threats.

Schumer chocked the reactions up to sexism.

She said:

"The misogyny is unbelievable."

Others felt Schumer was in the wrong or hypocritical.

One person wrote:

"I don’t want to hear Amy Schumer saying a thing about misogyny after the gross jokes she’s made about Black and Asian women ... "
"And she’s acting as if Will isn’t facing heavy backlash already, idk why she feels the need to keep his name in her mouth."

Another person posted:

"It’s not misogyny. Schumer made a cruel and uncomfortable joke for Dunst."
"No one deserves death threats."
"Schumer could stand to gain some common sense, though. She’s out there in la la land."

CRS/YouTube

Regardless of the real reason, the severity of the backlash and overall reactions from this year's Oscars ceremony are on another level.

More from Entertainment/tv-and-movies

Screenshot of James Talarico; Ken Paxton
MediasTouch Podcast; Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

Texas Democrat James Talarico Has Epic Response To MAGA Opponent's Accusation That He's A Secret Vegan

Texas Senate nominee James Talarico had the perfect response after MAGA Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused him of being a secret vegan.

Talarico is not actually vegan—though there is nothing inherently wrong with veganism. Even so, Paxton has already begun attacking his likely Democratic challenger before he has officially entered the race, arguing that Talarico is unfit to represent Texans partly because of his supposed veganism.

Keep ReadingShow less
Russell Crowe
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Russell Crowe Shuts Down Accusations He Was Rude To Fans In Paris After Video Goes Viral—But People Are Torn

While staying in a hotel in Paris, Gladiator star Russell Crowe was met with a crowd of fans outside, eager to take selfies and receive autographs.

Crowe took the time to work his way through the crowd while still honoring his schedule and other guests at the hotel, and he was able to do that by setting firm boundaries, which were soon met with mixed reviews.

Keep ReadingShow less
Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander
@variety/X

Journalist Slammed After Only Addressing South Korean Film's Two White Actors During Q&A At Cannes

A journalist is being hotly criticized for all but ignoring the Asian stars of a South Korean film at Cannes in favor of the film's two white headliners.

Stars Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander are being criticized as well for not calling out the journalist's behavior and sticking up for their castmates.

Keep ReadingShow less
screenshot of Kevin Hart on The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club/YouTube

Kevin Hart Just Tried To Defend Tony Hinchcliffe's George Floyd Joke At His Netflix Roast—And Fans Aren't Having It

Comedian Kevin Hart is facing heightened backlash after picking the worst venue to defend and make excuses for the racist jokes of MAGA comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. Hinchcliffe was included as a featured performer on Netflix's roast of Hart.

Despite getting his backside handed to him by Chelsea Handler, Hinchcliffe still managed to spew some of the bigotry passed off as humor that is his shtick. Hart then decided to go on the popular morning radio show The Breakfast Club to defend him.

Keep ReadingShow less
Zohran Mamdani; Vivek Ramaswamy
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; John Lamparski/Getty Images

Zohran Mamdani Trolls Vivek Ramaswamy Hard After Knicks Sweep Cavaliers—And Fans Are Cheering

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani had social media users cackling after he couldn't help but rub the Knicks' sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the face of Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Ramaswamy, a billionaire entrepreneur, is currently campaigning for the 2026 election in the state, where he has continued to face accusations that he is out of touch with the average American voter, such as when he suggested lawmakers could help make parenting "more affordable" by making school year-round.

Keep ReadingShow less