This Emmys 2024 joke left Meryl Streep in shock — and divided viewers

Meryl Streep turned heads at the 2024 Emmys — and not for the usual reasons.

The award-winning star, 75, didn’t take home her typical pile of trophies on Sunday night for her Hulu show “Only Murders in the Building.”

But she drew attention when she reacted to an off-color joke.

When they were presenting the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series — for which Streep was nominated — real-life spouses and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” co-stars Rob McElhenney and Kaitlin Olson made a joke at Streep’s expense .

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are here to honor the comedic performances that hold everything in place. They show crucial support when it’s really needed,” McElhenney said, as he announced the nominees in that category.

Olson jumped in to say, “What you were describing sounds very much like a jockstrap.”

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“No it doesn’t!” McElhenney said. The “Mythic Quest” creator and star continued, “These roles make sure everything stays secure, without this support the whole package falls apart … all right, this does sound like a jockstrap.”

His wife then said, “Are you calling Meryl Streep a jockstrap?”

The camera then cut to Streep in the audience, as McElhenney said, “No! I’m so sorry, Meryl.”

Streep mouthed, “Oh God,” pretending to be upset.

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“The Bear” star Liza Colón-Zayas took home the award, making Emmys history as the first Latina to win that category.

Fans on social media were divided about the joke.

“I don’t know who wrote the #EmmyAwards tonight, but the dialog is soooooo cringe. They just compared Meryl Streep to a jock strap. Yeah, it’s that bad,” one viewer said on X, formerly Twitter.

But another viewer commented, “Meryl Streep reacting to being called a jockstrap was amazing.”

Streep also made a splash at the Emmys for her rumored romance with Martin Short , 74.

The duo looked cozy as they sat next to each other at the ceremony, sharing laughs all night.

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Short and Streep first sparked dating rumors at the 2024 Golden Globes in January. But shortly thereafter, the “Father of the Bride” alum’s rep shut down rumors.

At the time, Short’s rep told E News, “They are just very good friends. Nothing more.”

Short and Streep’s characters on the hit Hulu show get into their own romance during the show’s third season.

Short is a widower, having been married to Canadian actress Nancy Dolman — with whom he had three kids: Katherine, 40, Oliver, 37, and Henry, 34 — from 1980 until her death from cancer in 2010.

For Streep’s part, sources told Page Six in October that Streep and Don Gummer — whom she married in 1978 and with whom she had four children: singer-songwriter Henry Wolfe, 44, and actresses Mamie Gummer, 40, Grace Gummer, 37, and Louisa Jacobson, 32  — had been quietly “separated for more than six years.”

“Only Murders in the Building” was up for 21 nominations at the Emmys , including Outstanding Comedy Series. Short’s co-star Selena Gomez was also nominated for her first acting Emmy for a primetime series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, but lost to “Hacks” star Jean Smart.

Steve Martin also picked up a nom for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for “Only Murders In the Building,” but he lost to “The Bear” lead Jeremy Allen White, despite Emmys hosts Dan and Eugene Levy pointing out how “The Bear” isn’t a comedy.

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