‘Daddy, watch me twirl!’: Leslie Jordan’s funniest moments, from viral hits to Will & Grace
Bona fide gay icon Leslie Jordan tragically passed away after a car crash in Hollywood, aged 67. (Getty/Envato)
There was an outpouring of grief when news broke that gay icon and all-round comedy legend Leslie Jordan had died.
The Will & Grace star passed away on Monday (24 October) after his car crashed into the side of a building. Law enforcement officials said they suspected he had suffered a medical emergency immediately before the accident.
For more than 30 years, Leslie Jordan was one of the most spectacularly funny gay men on television. He made a name for himself in shows like The Fall Guy before he left his mark as Beverley Leslie in Will & Grace.
As the world remembers an icon, we take a look back at some of Jordan’s funniest moments, from his Instagram reactions to his sitcom roles.
1. His ‘Rain On Me’ reaction brightened the pandemic
rest in peace leslie jordan ? throwback to his reaction to rain on me pic.twitter.com/VWMy7QBkc0
— she thinks her piss is wine (@grxndesenigma) October 24, 2022
Back in 2020, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande came to save us all from pandemic fatigue with their hit “Rain On Me” – but Leslie Jordan’s reaction made it even better.
The actor posted a video of himself on Instagram dancing in his seat to the song as he questioned whether its release signalled the end of the world.
“They couldn’t wait not even two or three days after Katy Perry released her song. Three icons, three GAYCONS, releasing hits within three days of each other – I think I read about this in the Bible, the book of Revelations,” Jordan said.
“I think it means it’s the end of the world or something. Makes me want dance!”
2. He reflected on trying to play straight
Shortly after Ellen DeGeneres came out publicly, Jordan appeared on her sitcom – and hilariously, was cast as a straight man.
As Jordan later explained during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, he thought he could “butch it up”, but it didn’t go so well.
The actor explained how he thought he pulled it off, but a scathing takedown from a friend after the episode aired put him back in his place.
“He said, ‘There was a big group of people here that didn’t know you and when you opened your mouth they said, get a load of her,'” Jordan said.
3. Leslie Jordan’s ‘WAP’ reaction brought him a whole new following
never forget when Leslie jordan listened to WAP for the first time talmbout “every garbage can has its lid” ??? pic.twitter.com/nbCmR2HWpf— syntrib8 (@bolt_tems) October 24, 2022
Leslie Jordan’s reaction to “WAP” by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion is still one of the best things on the internet.
In the clip, Jordan’s having a perfectly nice time vibing to the track before he reaches some of its famously risqué lyrics. The look of shock on his face is priceless.
“Oh lord, no, no, no, no,” he says.
“That is just shocking… Well, I don’t judge. To each his own, I guess every garbage can has its lid.”
4. Every single moment with Karen on Will & Grace
It wouldn’t be right – or even possible – to pick just one of Jordan’s best Will & Grace moments.
Throughout the show’s run, he and Karen (Megan Mullally) built one of the best rivalries known to television.
Instead of trying to pick just one moment, we’ll leave you with a compilation of some of their best scenes together.
From jokes about Jordan’s height to physical fights, the pair were endlessly entertaining – and it was always clear that, beneath the veneer of hatred, they loved each other really.
5. His coming out scene on Will & Grace was funny and touching
One of the running gags throughout Will & Grace was that the flamboyant, over-the-top Beverley Leslie was not gay.
In the end, his character came out to Karen, to which she replied: “That’s it? What’s your next bombshell, Harvey Weinstein isn’t always a perfect gentleman?”
6. ‘Daddy, watch me twirl’
eu não consigo assistir essa série e ver o Leslie Jordan em todo episódio sem automaticamente lembrar desse vídeo do "daddy, daddy! watch me twirl" pic.twitter.com/sAnXb33zun— yas (@jawnlock) May 17, 2021
Was there ever anything quite as gay as Leslie Jordan’s iconic “daddy, watch me twirl” clip?
The video immediately became a viral sensation when he posted it online – and queer people everywhere instantly related.
The clip saw Jordan reflect on his father bringing him to a football game as a child, and how he was only interested in the majorettes.
“He loved me, he just didn’t know what to make of me,” Jordan said, as he recounted – and re-enacted – his efforts to get his father’s attention by twirling a baton.
