Watch: Johnny Carson's Reaction to Reagan Shooting Goes Viral After Trump Targeted |
Watch: Johnny Carson's Reaction to Reagan Shooting Goes Viral After Trump Targeted
In 1981, this was a very different country. Readers of a certain age will know exactly what I mean.
Monday on the social media platform X, podcaster and fatherhood advocate Alec Lace posted a clip of legendary late-night comedian and host Johnny Carson showing “genuine class and respect” only one day after an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
The clip evoked powerful responses from nostalgic X users, particularly in light of the controversy surrounding current late-night host and liberal propagandist Jimmy Kimmel’s joke about First Lady Melania Trump looking like an “expectant widow,” which came two days prior to Saturday’s assassination attempt against President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C.
“I’m sure that all of you here and most of you watching tonight understand why we delayed this program for 24 hours,” Carson said at the opening of the 1981 Academy Awards. “Because of the incredible events of yesterday, that old adage ‘the show must go on’ seemed relatively unimportant. The Academy, ABC Television, and all of us connected with the show felt, because of the uncertain outcome as of this time yesterday, it would have been inappropriate to stage a celebration.”
Would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr. shot and wounded Reagan on Monday, March 30, 1981. The Oscars, originally scheduled for that evening, instead took place the following night.
“But the news today is very good, as you know,” Carson continued. “The president is in excellent condition at last reports. He’s been conducting business. And he happens to be in very good spirits. After all, you must remember, this is a man who, yesterday, while he was in the hospital, unable to speak, wrote on a sheet of paper, ‘All things considered, I’d rather be in Philadelphia.’ So tonight, the show does go on.”
Note, too, that the Hollywood........