John Mulaney’s NSFW DJ Khaled Joke Was Muted at Emmys: What He Said

John Mulaney Shuts Down Emmys 2026 With Must-See MonologueJohn Mulaney knows how to get a big reaction on live TV. The former Saturday Night Live writer shocked the audience at the 2026 Emmys with a jaw-dropping joke that featured a notorious quote from DJ Khaled while presenting the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. “I believe it was DJ Khaled who said, ‘Real men don’t go down on their wives,’” Mulaney—who married Olivia Munn in 2024—said at the Sept. 14 ceremony. “But these nominees know that is BS. They know there’s often less pressure on them if they do that first.” Although it was partially muted during the live broadcast, Mulaney's comment prompted hysterical laughter from Sterling K. Brown, an enthusiastic nod from Mark Ruffalo and Noah Wyle’s wife Sara Wells to sheepishly hide behind him. And for what it’s worth, Mulaney’s facts are partially correct. In 2018, Khaled went viral for saying he had never performed oral sex on a woman, including his wife Nicole Tuck. “It’s different rules for men,” the rapper said during a 2018 appearance on the Breakfast Club Power show. “I just can’t do what you want me to do.”Meanwhile, fans of the comedian confirmed that he was well-aware it was a risky choice to take during the NBC broadcast, as he teased the material at his Sept. 12 show in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “John Mulaney ran through his Emmy bit at his Grand Rapids show on Saturday,” one fan detailed on X, “and said he would quote DJ Khaled regardless if they approved it or not and then they cut his audio on NBC.” Another shared Mulaney had allegedly told the Grand Rapids audience, “He REALLY wanted that DJ Khaled bit in there and his goal was to trick censors by not saying it during rehearsal.”Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesOf course, Mulaney’s monologue would have shut down the house at Peacock Theater even without the shock value of his DJ Khaled reference. At another point, he borrowed a quote from Frank Vincent’s A Guy’s Guide to Being a Man’s Man, which he read aloud. “‘A man’s man can be wearing the best clothes, drinking the finest wine, sitting with the most beautiful woman in Las Vegas,’” Mulaney recited from the Raging Bull star’s 2007 lifestyle book. “‘But if he doesn’t treat everyone around him with respect and class, he’s not a real man’s man. He’s just a jabroni in a good suit.’” And with that, Mulaney presented the award—and the book, courtesy of the Glendale Public Library—to Wyle. For every winner at the Emmys 2026, keep reading…Outstanding Drama SeriesThe Diplomat The Gilded Age A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Paradise WINNER: The Pitt Pluribus Slow Horses Your Friends and NeighborsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Drama SeriesCarrie Coon, The Gilded Age Keri Russell, The Diplomat WINNER: Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus Zendaya, Euphoria Chase Infiniti, The TestamentsOutstanding Lead Actor in a Drama SeriesSterling K. Brown, Paradise Gary Oldman, Slow Horses Mark Ruffalo, Task WINNER: Noah Wyle, The Pitt Rufus Sewell, The DiplomatOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesFiona Dourif, The Pitt Taylor Dearden, The Pitt WINNER: Allison Janney, The Diplomat Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt Sepideh Moafi, The Pitt Julianne Nicholson, Paradise Karolina Wydra, PluribusOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesPatrick Ball, The Pitt Billy Crudup, The Morning Show Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt Jack Lowden, Slow Horses WINNER: Tom Pelphrey, Task Carlos Manuel-Vesga, Pluribus Gerran Howell, The PittOutstanding Comedy SeriesAbbott Elementary The Bear Nobody Wants This Hacks Margo’s Got Money Troubles Only Murders in the Building Shrinking WINNER: Widow’s BayOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy SeriesQuinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary Ayo Edebiri, The Bear Elle Fanning, Margo’s Got Money Troubles Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback WINNER: Jean Smart, HacksOutstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesSteve Carell, Rooster WINNER: Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay Jason Segel, Shrinking Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Wonder ManOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesDale Dickey, Widow’s Bay Hannah Einbinder, Hacks Janelle James, Abbott Elementary WINNER: Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay Megan Stalter, Hacks Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Troubles Jessica Williams, ShrinkingOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesColman Domingo, The Four Seasons Paul W. Downs, Hacks Nick Offerman, Margo’s Got Money Troubles WINNER: Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay Michael Urie, Shrinking Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary Harrison Ford, ShrinkingOutstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy SeriesLeslie Bibb, Hacks Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear WINNER: Betty Gilpin, Widow's Bay Cherry Jones, Hacks Laurie Metcalf, Hacks Kaitlin Olson, Hacks Lauren Weedman, HacksOutstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy SeriesChristopher McDonald, Hacks Michael J. Fox, Shrinking Brett Goldstein, Shrinking Hamish Linklater, Widow's Bay WINNER: Rob Reiner, The Bear Connor Storrie, Saturday Night LiveOutstanding Guest Actress in a Drama SeriesTal Anderson, The Pitt Brittany Allen, The Pitt Tina Ivlev, The Pitt Miriam Shor, Pluribus Merritt Wever, The Gilded Age WINNER: Shailene Woodley, ParadiseOutstanding Guest Actor in a Drama SeriesColman Domingo, Euphoria WINNER: Ernest Harden Jr., The Pitt Jeff Hiller, Pluribus Jeff Kober, The Pitt Jonathan Pryce, Slow Horses Bradley Whitford, The DiplomatOutstanding Limited or Anthology SeriesThe Beast in Me Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette WINNER: DTF St. Louis Beef All Her FaultOutstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieClaire Danes, The Beast in Me Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette WINNER: Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures Carey Mulligan, Beef Sarah Snook, All Her FaultOutstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieWINNER: Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me Riz Ahmed, Bait Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story Oscar Isaac, BeefOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieWINNER: Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis Constance Zimmer, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette Dakota Fanning, All Her Fault Joy Sunday, DTF St. Louis Youn Yuh-jung, Beef Laurie Metcalf, Monster: The Ed Gein StoryOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieJason Bateman, DTF St. Louis Richard Gadd, Half Man Richard Jenkins, DTF St. Louis WINNER: David Harbour, DTF St. Louis Charles Melton, Beef Nick Offerman, Death by LightningOutstanding Unstructured Reality ProgramAmerica's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders WINNER: Love on the Spectrum RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Summer House Welcome to WrexhamOutstanding Structured Reality ProgramWINNER: Antiques Roadshow Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Love is Blind Queer Eye Shark TankOutstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition ProgramRuPaul Charles, RuPaul's Drag Race WINNER: Alan Cumming, The Traitors Kristen Kish, Top Chef Ariana Madix, Love Island USA Jeff Probst, SurvivorOutstanding Variety SeriesThe Daily Show Jimmy Kimmel Live! Last Week Tonight With John Oliver WINNER: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Saturday Night LiveOutstanding Reality Competition ProgramDancing With the Stars RuPaul’s Drag Race Survivor Top Chef WINNER: The TraitorsOutstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable WINNER: The Muppet Show Nikki Glaser: Good Girl Taylor Swift, The Eras Tour, The Final Show Wicked: One Wonderful NightOutstanding Host for a Game ShowSteve Harvey, Celebrity Family Feud Ken Jennings, Jeopardy! Colin Jost, Pop Culture Jeopardy! WINNER: Jimmy Kimmel, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Martin Short, Match GameFor the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App