SECOND gentleman Doug Emhoff and his son were left red-faced after an awkward live TV moment caught during Tuesday’s Democratic National Convention.
Emhoff took to the stage to shake his son Cole’s hand before what some viewers have slammed as a “cringe” speech.
It came just a day after the second gentleman was criticized for the way he hugged his daughter Ella during the first night of the DNC.
While his wife was busy campaigning in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Emhoff took the stage during the second night of the DNC.
He was introduced via a touching tribute video narrated by his oldest son, Cole.
After the video, Cole then appeared onstage to introduce his father, where eagle-eyed viewers caught a glimpse of a handshake gone awry.
As Cole attempted to hand off the stage to his father, the duo reached out their arms, attempting to shake hands.
However, they made a major mishap, with Emhoff reaching out his left hand, while Cole’s right hand was outstretched.
The duo missed their chance at a solid, firm handshake, leading to a disastrous handoff in the latest blunder of the night.
Still, the show must go on, with Emhoff taking the stage just seconds after the mishap, to a roaring crowd.
“Thank you so much,” he began his speech, taking a moment to pause as he looked around the United Center.
“Wow,” he uttered, as the applause died down.
“Aren’t you proud of Cole?” he questioned the audience, despite the duo’s disastrous moment just seconds before.
He waved to the crowd, and gave a shout-out to his “blended family” in the rafters, waving at several family members, including his daughter, Ella.
Emhoff then dove headfirst into what critics described as one of the night’s most cringeworthy moments.
“And a special shout out to my motha,” he said.
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“I see you,” he added, pointing up at the stands.
Viewers were quick to share their thoughts on the moment on X.
“Extremely cringy,” one viewer wrote.
“One who can’t relate,” another user wrote, alongside a crying laughing emoji.
“Doug Emhoff’s #DNC2024 speech is so cringey even his wife didn’t show up for it,” another user jokingly wrote.
GIRL DAD?
The awkward handshake, followed by an even more embarrassing speech, comes just one day after viewers called Emhoff “creepy” and “weird” for his on-screen moments with Ella.
Ella, who opted for a plain white T-shirt and a pair of matching pants for night one of the DNC, was spotted standing next to her dad in the crowd.
However, it was Emhoff’s hand around her waist that sparked online backlash, with many viewers finding the affectionate moment inappropriate.
Ella, in turn, also had her arm around Emhoff’s shoulder, embracing her dad as they smiled for photos and watched the events of the night unfold.
“Um… Why is Doug Emhoff’s hand placed on his daughter like that…” one X user questioned.
“His daughter is such a FREAK!!! And they call us weird? Lmao,” one user wrote.
“I’ve never gotten this close to my father,” another user shared.
“Yeah I’ve never touched my dad like that. Ever,” another viewer added.
DNC DISASTERS
Emhoff’s awkward moments were largely overshadowed by other happenings during the second night of the DNC.
Tuesday dealt some major blows to the convention, with police on high alert after receiving bomb threats at 14 Chicago hotels earlier in the day.
Protests continued throughout the day and well into the evening, even after the primetime programming kicked off at the United Center.
The chaotic roll call got off to a rough start with Alabama delegates failing to cast their votes when called on.
Technical difficulties plagued the hour, with representatives from several states struggling to speak over loud music.
Even rapper Lil Jon’s spirited performance ahead of Georgia’s nomination couldn’t save the evening.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker– a noted billionaire – took the stage just moments after Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders slammed the one percent.
Still, the night capped off with an inspiring speech from former First Lady Michelle Obama, who also introduced her husband, former President Barack Obama, to thunderous applause from the crowd.
