Stephen Colbert may have caught some flak for his recent interview with Selena Gomez, but he’s getting the last laugh (and relishing it).
In his monologue on Thursday night’s Late Show, Colbert offered congratulations to Gomez, who revealed that she’s engaged to musician Benny Blanco.
It was just last week that Colbert had pried for details on the relationship, unaware of what was to come. While interviewing Gomez on December 3, Colbert presented a photo of her and Blanco at Thanksgiving together. “If you don’t mind me asking, where is this relationship going?” he asked.
“Woah!” replied Gomez, who apparently was not expecting that question.
Colbert than delivered a message directly into camera for Blanco. “Benny? You must think you’re pretty special if you think you can do better than this,” he said sternly. “As America’s dad, I want to know what your intentions are with America’s daughter.”
“Thank you?” a confused but laughing Gomez replied.
Cue the outrage. Or, at least the hot takes. Buzzfeed described Gomez’s reaction as “awkward,” while The Independent wrote that she’d been “blindsided” by Colbert’s question. Gomez’s answer also generated headlines, with People highlighting that the actress said she’s “not sure” where the relationship was going.
While Colbert didn’t address the earlier reaction to his interview with Gomez, he relished in the timing of the happy couple’s news last night in his monologue.
“I don’t want to take any credit for this engagement,” he told viewers. “I want to take all the credit.”
Of course, Colbert is willing to allow some credit to Blanco and Gomez themselves. “They had something to do with it,” he conceded. “But I’m the one who loosened the lid on the pickle jar of commitment.”
Watch the clip from Colbert’s monologue below:
