Cardboard Cutout of Hong Kong’s Leader Becomes a Joke on Conan O’Brien’s Talk Show

In a “Conan Highlight” segment, posted on Tuesday, the 57-year-old veteran talk show host said he asked viewers to send in photographs of themselves to fill up the Los Angeles theater seats as people continue to practice social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Coconuts Hong Kong reported.

 

During the segment, O’Brien and the show’s announcer and sidekick, Andy Richter, introduced some of their audience to the viewers.

The last few minutes of the segment show O’Brien holding up a picture of Lam sitting behind a desk with a serious expression. The picture was reportedly taken during Lam’s announcement of Hong Kong’s extradition bill withdrawal last year.

“You know what, she doesn’t look like it, but she is nuts,” Richter quipped. “She goes ape sh*t when you come out here.”

In response, O’Brien said this is the type of person he makes eye contact with whenever he goes out when taping his show.

“This is the reaction that I’m looking at and wondering ‘Why? Why did you even come to the show? Why — do you even enjoy comedy at all?’” he said, eliciting laughter from the staff and Richter. “You look like you’re here to pass a death sentence and you’ve come to a show. I don’t understand.”

Richter then joked she is “part of a Trade Delegation in government” before O’Brien decided to bring her up to the stage to sit beside him.

“Sometimes if an audience member isn’t truly being won over, you can get them by bringing them up on stage with you,” he said. “Does she seem happier now?”

“It seems like she’s saying no to your loan,” Richter quipped after the camera focused on Lam’s cutout.

Many social media users reacted to the segment, including activist Joshua Wong, Hong Kong Free Press reported.

Featured Image Screenshot via Team Coco