During last night's appearance on "The Late Show With David Letterman," New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie joked back-and-forth with the comedian, speaking candidly about his weight, among other subjects. Rather than avoiding the subject or taking offense at past jabs, he and Letterman actually shared some laughs about the many fat jokes the comic has made about the lawmaker.
Christie has termed his plumpness "fair game" for comedians and he fully embraced this sentiment last night. In his first appearance on "The Late Show," the outspoken Republican and potential 2016 presidential contender even read two of Letterman's jokes that he said were "some of my personal favorites."
In this photo released by CBS Broadcasting, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, left, and late night host David Letterman, right, react with laughter during the Governor's first visit to CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman,” on Monday, Feb. 4, 2013 in New York. (AP Photo/CBS Broadcasting, Jeffrey Neira)
The governor also drew loud laughs when he pulled out a doughnut and started eating it while Letterman asked him if he was bothered by the digs that have been made about his weight. Christie said he wasn't, noting that he laughs at the jokes if he finds them funny.
"I only care if you're funny. From my perspective, if the joke is funny I laugh even if it's about me," the governor told Letterman. "If it's not funny I don't laugh. But I've never felt like it was anything that ever really bugged me that much."
Christie also quipped that he finds only about 40 percent of Letterman's jokes about him comical.
Watch highlights from the exchange, below:
Perhaps the candor with which Christie handled the subject wasn't entirely surprising. After all, he told Oprah Winfrey in a Jan. 2012 interview that he is no longer bothered by people who poke fun at his weight. When also asked it if he is ever offended by the jokes, he was candid.
"Not anymore. I think it hurt me a lot when I was younger. But I kinda think now I’ve developed a bit of a shell about it because it’s been talked about so much," he said. "I don’t like being overweight. I know I’d be healthier and better off if I weren’t."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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