James Corden’s sexual joke about Dame Judi Dench has reportedly been cut from the official broadcast of this year's Breakthrough Awards.
The Gavin and Stacey star was met with silence when he made a lurid gag about the esteemed actress, 90, having sex with Dr Anthony Fauci - the former chief medical advisor to the president of the United States - at the science awards in LA earlier this month.
Per the Mail, Corden told the star-studded audience in Hollywood: “Tonight is the one night that Hollywood and science come together, other than of course, that one magical evening where Dr Fauci had a one night stand with Dame Judi Dench.”
The remark was met with little to no laughter from the crowd as the camera panned to actress Olivia Wilde opening her mouth in shock.
It has now been claimed that bosses have edited Corden’s obscene joke out of the final broadcast of the awards ceremony on YouTube.
According to the Mail, the final edit of the evening shows the Late Late Show host, 46, saying: “Tonight is the one night that Hollywood and science come together.”
His comment about Dench is reportedly cut out and he continues: “And Hollywood has come out tonight.”
Drew Barrymore, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lizzo, Kate Hudson, and Mark Zuckerberg were among the other famous faces at the event, which celebrated achievements in science.
The Standard has contacted Corden’s representative for comment.
Corden came under fire for another controversial joke in 2017, this time about disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein at the amfAR gala.
“It’s been weird this week watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water. Ask any of the women who watched him take a bath, it’s weird,” he said at the time, prompting groans from the audience.
“I don’t know if that groan was because you liked that joke or don’t like that joke,” he added. “If you don’t like that joke, you should probably leave now.”
He made more jokes referencing Weinstein’s alleged behaviour, including: “Harvey Weinstein wanted to come tonight, although he’ll settle for whatever potted plant is closest.”
Corden later apologised on social media, writing: “To be clear, sexual assault is no laughing matter. I was not trying to make light of Harvey’s inexcusable behavior, but to shame him, the abuser, not his victims.
“I am truly sorry for anyone offended, that was never my intention.”
