Sean Spicer has landed firmly back in reality after a brief brush with Hollywood during his surprise appearance at the Emmys on Sunday.
The former White House Press Secretary was spotted with wife Rebecca Miller leaving an airport in Washington DC having flown back from Los Angeles.
Spicer looked a far cry from his black-tie Emmys sophistication, dressed in a super-casual polo shirt with dark jeans and Nike trainers.
Sean Spicer touched back down in Washington DC on Tuesday as he returned to reality following his brush with the stars at the Emmys
The former White House Press Secretary was spotted strolling through the airport with wife Rebecca Miller having landed from Los Angeles
The pair arrived in DC having spent Sunday night lapping up the limelight in Hollywood
Rebecca retained a little showbiz style, donning a sleeveless black leather top with blue jeans and black high-heeled shoes.
While Spicer insisted his presence at the awards show well received on the ground in LA, it has caused fury among both pro and anti-Trump supporters online.
Touring celebrity parties after the show, Spicer said he was ‘surprised’ by how nice everyone was, adding that many people asked for selfies with him.
But supporters of his former boss mocked him online as ‘beneath contempt’ and a ‘sell-out’ who traded his reputation for popularity.
Meanwhile liberal commentators insisted he should apologize for his tenure on Trump’s staff before they could laugh with him.
Spicer was a surprise guest at the award ceremony as he was wheeled out on stage where he mocked his own first address to the press after Trump was inaugurated
Melissa McCarthy, who impersonated Spicer on SNL until he was fired, looked dumbfounded as he was brought out on stage
Veep star Anna Chlumsky perhaps offered up the best reaction as Spicer appeared, unable to believe what she was seeing
Others accused host Stephen Colbert, who admitted to putting the surprise together, of ‘normalizing’ the Trump White House with his presence.
Speaking to the New York Times on the plane back from LA, Spicer said people were taking the event too seriously and encouraged them to ‘lighten up’.
Spicer was brought out during a segment in which Colbert lamented not being able to know how many people were watching the show – before Spicer appeared behind a mock White House podium.
‘This will be the largest audience to witness an Emmys. Period. Both in person, and around the world,’ he said, referencing his first comments as Press Secretary when he was discussing the size of Trump’s inauguration crowd.
While Spicer said his appearance was well-received by crowds in LA, he was derided by pro and anti-Trump supporters online – who also turned on host Stephen Colbert who admitted putting the cameo together
Asked by the Times whether the joke should be viewed as a sign he now regrets those words, he replied: ‘Absolutely.’
Spicer didn’t betray any concern that President Trump would be offended by the skit, which some commentators have said acknowledged he wasn’t truthful during his job. He is currently on the paid speaking circuit.
‘I certainly hope not,’ Spicer said. ‘This was an attempt to poke a little fun at myself and add a little bit of levity to the event.’
But many interpreted Spicer’s appearance as a jibe to Trump on a night when celebrities lined up to take pot shots at the President.
Colbert, who has seen a massive ratings boost on his Late Show since he turned on Trump, led the charge – and was followed by the likes of Alec Bladwin, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Donald Glover and Kumail Nanjiani.