Thompson, a longtime Saturday Night Live cast member, was hosting the ceremony for the first time and introduced Euphoria star Zendaya from the stage and followed with a crack about The Great Gatsby actor.
“Zendaya just turned 26. Twenty-six is a weird age in Hollywood. Young enough to play a high school student, but too old to date Leonardo DiCaprio,” Thompson said, drawing laughs from the audience inside Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater.
DiCaprio’s dating habits have been a topic of recent discussion after the actor reportedly broke up with his partner, model Camila Morrone, soon after her 25th birthday. The split resulted in speculation on social media of whether the 47-year-old DiCaprio had ever dated anyone over the age of 25.
“Then Leonardo DiCaprio stood up and slapped Kenan Thompson. Oh, wait, that would be ridiculous,” user Will Andrade tweeted about Thompson’s joke.
Following the news of DiCaprio ending his relationship with Morrone in June, Newsweek Fact Check investigated the claims that the Don’t Look Up actor has not dated someone over the age of 25, though the results were mostly inclusive. However, the investigation did find that he reportedly dated a high number of actresses under age 26.
Thompson’s joke about DiCaprio marks the second time this year that the actor’s dating history was mocked at a major awards show. During the Academy Awards in March, co-host Amy Schumer also made at joke at the actor’s expense.
“Leonardo DiCaprio, what can I even say about him? He’s done so much to fight climate change and leave behind a cleaner, greener planet for his girlfriends. Because he’s older, and they’re younger,” Schumer said.
Following the Oscars, Schumer revealed on SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show in April that she had asked DiCaprio if he would be okay with the quip. DiCaprio, who was in attendance at the Academy Awards ceremony, was reportedly fine with the joke, according to Schumer.
Zendaya had a larger personal moment later in the Emmys ceremony when she took home the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Euphoria. The win marked the second time the Dune star won the award for her portrayal of Rue Bennett on the hit HBO series.
“@Zendaya WINS HER SECOND #Emmy FOR #Euphoria!!! VERY MUCH DESERVED!!! I AM SO HAPPY FOR HER!!!” user @cbell_jr tweeted.
User @chanelashleigh wrote, “i’m not even surprised zendaya won an emmy. she plays the heck outta rue. my girl deserves alllll of that,” while adding a bouquet emoji, a trophy emoji and the hashtag #blackgirlmagic.
