Emmys 2017: How celebrities reacted to Sean Spicer's surprise appearance

The former White House press secretary was wheeled on stage as a joke for host Stephen Colbert's monologue

On what was an incredible night celebrating innovation, diversity, and simply great television, came a profoundingly tone-deaf moment for the Emmys.

Host Stephen Colbert's monologue took a surprising turn when former White House press secretary Sean Spicer came out on stage, making use of the signature podium Melissa McCarthy used as a weapon in her send-up of him on Saturday Night Live.

The moment arrived as Colbert joked about the Emmys' audience size, mocking Spicer's now-infamous “alternative facts” comment he made in reference to the crowd size at Trump's inauguration in January.

Spicer said: “This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys period, both in person and around the world," following which Colbert exclaimed: “Melissa McCarthy, everyone."

The reaction from the crowd seemed to range from Anna Chlumsky's full-blown shock, a look of deep discomfort from McCarthy herself, to wry laughter from Kevin Spacey.

Alec Baldwin later defended Spicer backstage, telling reporters: "I think people in the business, the average person, is very grateful for him to have a sense of humour and participate. Spicer was obviously compelled to do certain things that we might not have respected or we might not have admired, we might have been super critical of, in order to do his job. But I've done some jobs that are things you shouldn't admire or respect me for either. He and I have that in common, I suppose."

As a reminder, Spicer is the man who publicly claimed that Adolf Hitler, who gassed millions of Jews during the Holocaust, did not use chemical weapons, before calling concentration camps, "Holocaust centres".

Celebrities also contributed their thoughts on Twitter, with actor/comedian Billy Eichner - who was at the ceremony - noting that Spicer spent his time in the green room backstage alone, staring at his phone.

You can read the full list of Emmy winners here.

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