Stephen Colbert Reveals The Funny Moment He Learned He Was Paulina Porizkova’s “Hall Pass”
Stephen Colbert has had plenty of unforgettable moments in late-night television, but one of his funniest personal stories may be the day he discovered that supermodel Paulina Porizkova once considered him her “hall pass.”
The comedian shared the story during Strike Force Five Returns to Celebrate Stephen Colbert, a reunion conversation featuring Colbert alongside Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver. During the discussion, Kimmel asked whether any guest had ever been so attractive that it became distracting. That question led Colbert to reveal a surprising and very flattering memory.
Colbert explained that he was once at dinner with friends when the group started joking about celebrity “hall passes.” As people around the table named their choices, one friend mentioned Paulina Porizkova. That prompted Colbert to pull out his phone, open the PEOPLE app, and show everyone that Porizkova had once named him as her own “hall pass.”
The reaction from the other late-night hosts was immediate. Kimmel, Fallon, Meyers and Oliver were stunned, laughing and shouting in disbelief. Colbert then joked that it was a “flex” he has never been able to match. For a man known for sharp wit and self-deprecating humor, the story landed perfectly: funny, unexpected and just absurd enough to feel like classic Colbert.
The original moment dates back to Colbert’s Colbert Report era. At the time, Porizkova appeared on Good Morning America, where she was told that Colbert had mentioned her on his show. Her response was playful and flattering. She said that if not for the fact that she was already happily married — and so was he — Colbert was exactly her kind of guy. She then added that he was “so hot.”
When the clip made its way back to The Colbert Report, Colbert reacted in full comedic character. He joked that he had never asked to be a sex symbol, but that the title had been forced upon him. The audience loved it, and Colbert leaned completely into the ridiculousness of the moment. He even replayed the clip to make sure he had heard it correctly, then reportedly had a T-shirt made to mark the occasion.
Part of what makes the story so charming is that Colbert has been married to Evelyn “Evie” McGee Colbert since 1993, and his devotion to her is well known among fans. That context makes the Porizkova story feel less scandalous and more like a harmless, hilarious compliment that Colbert never forgot. PEOPLE noted that Porizkova was also married at the time of her original comment.
The anecdote also reveals why Colbert has remained so beloved. Even when sharing a story that could sound like bragging, he turns it into a joke at his own expense. He does not present himself as a Hollywood heartthrob. Instead, he treats the whole thing like a surreal comedy gift that briefly dropped into his lap.
For fans, the story is another reminder of Colbert’s gift for finding humor in almost anything — even a compliment from one of the world’s most famous models.
In the end, Stephen Colbert may have spent years making audiences laugh, but this time, the punchline was on him: somewhere out there, Paulina Porizkova once thought he was the dream choice.
