In what can only be described as a masterclass in comedic evisceration, Stephen Colbert has turned his satirical sights on Prince Andrew's now-infamous BBC interview about his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Royal Reckoning
Colbert didn't mince words as he dissected the Duke of York's controversial television appearance, highlighting what many viewers saw as glaring inconsistencies in the royal's account of his relationship with Epstein. The Late Show host questioned how Andrew could possibly claim to have no recollection of meeting Virginia Giuffre, given the photographic evidence that places them together.
'The prince's memory seems remarkably selective,' Colbert noted with his signature dry wit, 'conveniently failing when it comes to key details about a man he considered a friend.'
Questionable Explanations
Colbert particularly focused on what many have called the interview's most bizarre moment - Prince Andrew's attempt to explain a photograph showing him with his arm around a teenage Giuffre by suggesting he has a medical condition that prevents him from sweating.
'Because nothing says innocent like inventing a rare medical condition to explain away photographic evidence,' Colbert quipped, leaving his audience in stitches while making a serious point about the prince's credibility.
A Pattern of Poor Judgment
The comedy segment underscored the growing public perception that Prince Andrew demonstrated profoundly poor judgment in maintaining a friendship with Epstein long after the financier's initial conviction for sex offences. Colbert's analysis suggested the interview may have done more harm than good to the royal's reputation.
As Colbert put it: 'When your best defence is that you have questionable taste in friends and a mysterious sweating condition, you might want to reconsider your public relations strategy.'
The segment serves as another example of how late-night comedy has become a significant venue for political and social commentary, holding powerful figures to account through humour and sharp analysis.
