‘I wasn’t trying to overshadow’

Comedian Nate Bargatze, the underwhelming host of the 2025 Emmys, has spoken out to defend his controversial charity bit. 

“A lot of reviews did not like that, but it came from a real place of heart,” Bargatze, 46, said on an episode of the “Nateland” podcast released Wednesday.

“Everybody at home loved it. It was fun and entertaining to see money go down and all that,” the Nashville native explained. “I wasn’t trying to put anyone on the spot or make someone donate money. In my head I thought, ‘Make it fun.’ We’re not using the charity as a tool.”

During the award show, Bargatze had a recurring bit where he showed how he planned to donate $100,000 to the Boys & Girls club. However, he planned to deduct $1,000 from that amount for any acceptance speech that goes on longer than the allotted 45 seconds. 

“I know. It’s tough. It’s brutal. What are you gonna do, though? I can’t change it. This is a game I made up, and these are the rules,” he said onstage. 

Critics slammed the bit for trying to “guilt” Emmy winners into shorter speeches. 

It also rang hollow when presenters such as Jennifer Coolidge were allowed to blab on for a good two minutes, despite not being a nominee or winner this year. 

Meanwhile, “Severance” star Tramell Tillman and “Adolencence” star Owen Cooper – who both made history with their first time wins – were threatened with playoff music if they ran over.

“I wasn’t trying to overshadow any of their speeches,” Bargatze went on. “What I thought would happen in the room… I thought it was going to be like Netflix donating or Apple. I did not expect [15-year-old ‘Adolescence’ winner Owen Cooper] to give money.”

Cooper made history as the youngest male actor of an Emmy when he took home the trophy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.

“In my head, I pictured it as [actors] could then go long but then be a hero. So it was like a win-win. Then the night becomes about love and giving to these kids that are there and all this kind of stuff,” Bargatze added on the podcast.

“I don’t know if I just didn’t explain it enough in the room. There was no ill will. I was trying to have a very giving night. I thought if people were giving long speeches they’d be like, ‘Netflix is going to cover it.’”

He admitted, “I could’ve explained it more.”