A history of men dragging their mums down red carpets just to save themselves.

Walton Goggins knew exactly what he was doing when he hosted Saturday Night Live.

The White Lotus actor made his SNL hosting debut over the weekend, and for the special Mother's Day episode, Goggins honoured his own mum, Janet Long, both in his monologue and a brunch sketch.

During his monologue, he called her "the most important person in my life," as he reminisced, before bringing Janet herself on stage.

"Growing up, whenever my mumma couldn't afford a babysitter, she would take me with her to honky tonks. My mother taught me how to clog, taught me how to two-step," he said before introducing his special guest.

"And lucky enough for me, my mumma is here tonight. We've come a long way, haven't we, Mum?"

Janet replied, "absolutely," before the two shared a little dance together, as the monologue closed out and the show began.

Walton Goggins clogging with his mom tonight on @nbcsnl was ICONIC pic.twitter.com/BRJqw0mi03

— Jordan. 🔜 Fan Expo Dallas (@ChoiceReznikov) May 11, 2025

It was a bit cute, right?

One thing was clear from the response: we love famous men and their mums! The sweet moment got a massive online response, with viewers having heart-eyes over the touching moment Walton shared with his mum.

walton goggins dancing with his mom in his snl monologue he has charmed me once again pic.twitter.com/1unvYeWdUV

— lexa (@chnageofheart) May 11, 2025

Walton Goggins dancing with his mom. Didn't think I could love him more. #SNL pic.twitter.com/8U2zXIw9Ac

— Lynn Mercereau (@lynnmercereau) May 11, 2025

On Mamamia's podcast The Spill, the hosts unpacked the wholesome moment, questioning Walton's motivation for including his mum in the segment.

After all, the SNL stint came in the aftermath of the rumours of a feud with his co-star, Aimee Lou Wood, who had publicly slammed SNL for mocking her appearance in a previous episode.

But this is just a wholesome episode about mums! Nothing to see here!

"The audience's reception of this moment has been extremely positive towards him," host Em Vernem noted.

"It made me think about how I've been seeing a pattern with celebrity men using their mums as a get-out-of-jail-free card when they're going through a big, bad PR stint."

Listen to The Spill episode. Post continues after podcast.

Em went on to use Glen Powell as a comparison, with the Anyone But You star known for bringing his parents to premieres.

"After all the Sydney Sweeney stuff with the movie press tour and everything, he would drag his parents out on the red carpet doing these funny jokes with him, holding up signs," she said.

Laura Brodnik went on to add that Leonardo DiCaprio is known for walking the red carpet with his mum, Irmelin Indenbirken.

"Every time he's been in the press for dating a younger woman or all that sort of stuff… he would always walk the red carpet with his mum," she said.

"And everyone would just be like, 'Who are you here with?' and he's like, 'My mum', and everyone goes, 'Awww!' and then she's like a little protective shield, like no scandalous questions because no one wants to embarrass Leo in front of his mum."

Leonardo DiCaprio and his mum Irmelin Indenbirken attend the Oscars in 2014. Image: Getty.

The same goes for Bradley Cooper, notes Brodnik.

"Bradley Cooper also does it a lot… when there were breakup rumours with him and Irena Shayk and when their breakup was actually happening, he walked so many red carpets with his mum."

Some mum-endorsed PR spins are relatively harmless.

For instance, Ryan Gosling often walks the red carpet with his mum, Donna Gosling, including straight after his split from Rachel McAdams in 2007, when she accompanied him to the 79th Annual Academy Awards.

Paul Mescal took his mum, Dearbhla Mescal, to the Gladiator II premiere in Dublin in November 2024, which followed some bizarre online rumours in 2023 that Mescal had a habit of having one-night stands and then taking his dates for a walk to "do a runner" and leave them behind.

But some of these potential PR stunts were more nefarious.

Justin Timberlake and his mother Lynn Harless at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards in 2011. Image: Getty.

In February 2011, Justin Timberlake walked the red carpet with his mum, Lynn Harless, at the Oscars. And what did this follow? In 2010, Justin Timberlake was at the centre of tabloid headlines due to allegations that he had cheated on his then-girlfriend, Jessica Biel, with actress Olivia Munn.

The couple subsequently took a break for several months before eventually reconciling and marrying in 2012.

Jared Leto brought his mum, Constance Leto, as his date to the Oscars in 2014. At the awards, he was nominated and ultimately won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the AIDS biopic, Dallas Buyers Club.

Leto's nomination was heavily criticised as the actor was cast in a part that could have been portrayed by a transgender actress.

That same year and for the same controversial movie, Matthew McConaughey brought his mum as his guest. In his winner's speech, he neglected to mention AIDS victims and told the world his hero was himself in 10 years.

But who has the energy to talk about that (me, I do!) when Matthew is such a sweetie for bringing his normie mum to the Oscars?? What a good boy!

Watch the moment below. Post continues after video.

Of course, not all of these mumma's boys are trying to cover up some scandal. This year, eternal cutie Sebastian Stan brought his mum to the Oscars after he copped his first nomination of his career.

Keanu Reeves is known for bringing his mum to events and if there's one thing we can agree on: Keanu Reeves can do no wrong.

It is worth remembering that famous women bring their mums to events ALL THE TIME without all the acclaim and attention.

Laura Dern, Margot Robbie and Jennifer Lawrence are just some examples of famous women who love to include their mums in their success… they just rarely make headlines.

Another Hollywood double standard between men and women?? Fancy that.

Feature image: SNL/Getty.