Yes, this is real life. No, you are not hallucinating.
So picture this: You’re Jimmy Fallon. You’re hosting The Tonight Show. Life is good. Then suddenly, The Last of Us star Isabela Merced pulls up and casually ruins your ego on live television like a pro gamer taking out a noob in Mario Kart.
On Tuesday night (May 20), 23-year-old Isabela came in HOT and basically said, “Hey Jimmy, remember that time you accidentally friend-zoned Nicole freaking Kidman?”
Jimmy, now visibly glitching like an NPC, replied with the classic panic button: “It’s a pleasure meeting you. We’re out of time.”
Sir, no you’re not. Sit down. We’re unpacking this.
Isabela doubled down, reminding Jimmy that he epically flopped his date with Nicole years ago, when instead of, y’know, flirting or talking, he booted up Mario Kart. Yes. MARIO. KART. The universal signal for “I have the emotional range of a blueberry muffin.”
Jimmy tried to save face by correcting her: “Actually, we played Mario Kart, thank you very much.” As if that makes it better?? Bro really chose Rainbow Road over romantic chemistry with an Oscar winner.
Isabela couldn’t stop roasting: “That’s my favorite clip on this show!” she said, basically throwing his dignity out a moving vehicle.
Flashback to 2015: Nicole Kidman came on The Tonight Show and spilled all the tea. She told the world she was down to date Jimmy—she was single, ready, and available. A mutual friend said Jimmy was into her. She shows up. She’s expecting a vibe. A spark. Maybe sushi. Maybe a kiss.
Instead, she gets… Jimmy in a baseball cap. Not talking. Literally just going “Hmm. Uh. Hmm.” like a man who forgot how to human. Then he fires up a video game like it’s 8th grade and she’s his cousin waiting for her turn on the Wii.
Nicole: 😐
Jimmy: 🧢 + 🎮 + 😬
“So I left after like 90 minutes thinking, ‘Okay, this is tragic. He has no interest. I am Nicole Kidman. What just happened?!’” she said. And then—brace yourself—she added: “Maybe he’s gay?”
Girl. SAME.
Honestly, we don’t know what’s more embarrassing: Jimmy fumbling Nicole like a dropped iPhone or the fact that he thought Mario Kart was a love language.
Anyway, Jimmy, if you’re reading this, it’s okay. We all have our “Oops I accidentally ignored Nicole Kidman” moments. Yours just happened on national television. Multiple times. With a studio audience.
Moral of the story? If Nicole Kidman walks into your apartment… put. the. controller. down.
