Jimmy Kimmel says Matthew McConaughey hugged him in Emmys bathroom with pants undone

Jimmy Kimmel says Matthew McConaughey gave him a long hug in a bathroom at the Emmys while McConaughey's penis was out of his pants.

He told the story himself. Kimmel shared it on Monday's edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live! during an interview with Woody Harrelson, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Kimmel said he had slipped out to the bathroom upset after the In Memoriam segment at the 2026 Emmys. The segment had honoured his friend and former show bandleader Cleto Escobedo III. He described himself as emotional and trying to collect himself away from the ceremony.

That is when he ran into McConaughey. Kimmel said McConaughey was standing at a urinal and turned to comfort him, then pulled him into a hug without stopping to adjust his clothing, as reported by Metro. Kimmel said he asked McConaughey if his penis was out. McConaughey answered, "Yes it is. Yes it is. In fact, I'm going to rub it up against you a little bit."

Harrelson had a front-row seat for the punchline. Kimmel said Harrelson was also in the bathroom at the time and came out of a stall to find the two men locked in the embrace. Harrelson was Kimmel's guest on the couch as he retold the story, and he laughed through the retelling.

Kimmel said McConaughey was trying to cheer him up. The hug worked. Kimmel said it made him feel a lot better and "did lighten the moment," according to Variety. He said he was ultimately grateful for the strange, well-timed comfort.

There was a booking reason Harrelson was there. He and McConaughey star as fictionalised versions of themselves in the comedy series Brothers, which premieres on Apple TV on Sept. 23. Jimmy Kimmel Live! has posted an official video clip of the Harrelson interview segment on its Facebook page for viewers catching up.