Meg Ryan Playfully Teases Billy Crystal Over Iconic ‘When Harry Met Sally’ Scene at Kennedy Center Honors
Meg Ryan playfully ribbed Billy Crystal during her speech at the 2023 Kennedy Center Honors, recalling their unforgettable fake orgasm scene from 'When Harry Met Sally'
During her speech at the 46th Kennedy Center Honors, Meg Ryan humorously poked fun at Billy Crystal for their famous When Harry Met Sally orgasm scene, thanking him for making it "really natural" and easier to fake.
Ryan was recalling the memorable scene from the 1989 romantic comedy, where she and Crystal's characters, Sally and Harry, go to lunch at Katz's Deli and Ryan pretends to have an orgasm in the middle of the restaurant. A fellow patron then quips, "I'll have what she's having."
"Those characters really came to life," Ryan added during her speech. "And meeting him was just incredible. I don't know, how could you not love Billy Crystal?"
Ryan explained that although Crystal is quite different from the character he played, the two do have similarities due to the actor's dedication to the role.
"Harry is a very complex character: obnoxious, insensitive, and afraid of commitment. But if you remove all of Harry's flaws, what you're left with is the essence of Billy. And what he brings to all of his characters is heart," she said. "Harry is his heart because Billy follows his heart, and as his wife Janice has known for over 50 years, falling in love with Billy is a pretty easy thing to do."
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Ryan wasn’t the sole individual to mock Crystal during that night. Rob Reiner, the film's director, playfully taunted the actor while walking the red carpet at the event. "I hope this doesn't inflate his ego, because truthfully, his ego is already oversized," Reiner, 76, quipped to the Associated Press on the red carpet.
Before the show began, Reiner teased Crystal, but in his speech he expressed nothing but sweet sentiments for the comedian. He gushed, "He can be edgy, but you always feel the human side of him. And he's not afraid to show his emotion, which is rare for most comedians."
Crystal was among the distinguished individuals recognized at the renowned ceremony. Alongside her, Queen Latifah, Barry Gibb, Dionne Warwick, and Renée Fleming were also celebrated for their contributions to the arts and American culture. President Joe Biden graced the event with his presence and commended all the award recipients, singling out Crystal for special appreciation.
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"Billy spent his childhood cleaning the floor of his family's music shop on 42nd Street, and he went on to become America's most celebrated comedian, actor, and writer in both film and theater," Biden, 81, remarked. "What I find most admirable about him is his kind heart— a heart that serves as a reminder for us all to love and support one another— by advocating for cancer awareness and raising funds, combating homelessness, aiding in the recovery of a city after 9/11 and Superstorm Sandy, and countless other efforts."
While the ceremony occurred on Sunday, the taping will air on CBS Wednesday, December 27.
