The Internet is not a fan of James Corden’s latest stunt, and the Tweets are gas

James Corden really is like Marmite. I still get a shiver down my spine when I think of Adele’s performance of “Someone Like You” at the Brits in 2011. Not because she was so mesmerising (she was) but because I can never move quickly enough on the YouTube video to cut out James Corden’s incredibly awkward introduction for this astounding performance.

“If you’ve ever had, a broken heart. You’re about to remember it, now.” Shiver.

And while lots of people love him or hate him, it’s undeniable that he has been an unmitigated success since his move stateside. That is, until now.

Recently filming a video for his segment “Crosswalk: The Musical” with Camila Cabello, Billy Porter, Idina Menzel and the stars of the upcoming Cinderella remake, the premise is to quite literally stop traffic and put on a huge performance in the short time that the green man is lit. Sounds fun and kooky right?

However, while the official segment has yet to air, a video recorded by someone in one of the cars caught the internet’s attention… and ire.

LMFAO CAMILLA IS SO PRETTY pic.twitter.com/lYrSvI26sk

— Anthony (@_BlueAnt) August 28, 2021

Singing along to Jennifer Lopez’ “Let’s Get Loud”, Camila Cabello and Billy Porter are bopping along and committed to the premise, to be fair. But then Corden comes over, inexplicably wearing a mouse/rat costume and gyrates at the person filming. It’s really hard to use the word “gyrate” but that’s essentially what is it.

And the internet asked the question we’re all thinking: Why?

Stuck at an intersection while James Corden dances around your car pic.twitter.com/oB94DwHIN5

— Steve Agee (@steveagee) August 28, 2021

we need to stop messing around and have another lockdown. the risk is simply too high of getting caught in a james corden flash mob

— soul nate (@MNateShyamalan) August 28, 2021

My worry is that we’re reaching the point of anti-James Corden fervour that will inspire an inevitable anti-backlash backlash and I don’t want to deal with that. Everyone pace yourself on your James Corden hate, please

— John Duncan (@Johntheduncan) August 29, 2021

despite seeing that james corden dancing in a rat suit video posted hundreds of times today, i have not pressed play once, thus ensuring my entrance to heaven

— Brandy Jensen (@BrandyLJensen) August 29, 2021

me every time James Corden pops up on my timeline pic.twitter.com/z04YU4dr1i

— Frank Costa (@feistyfrank) August 28, 2021

If Camilla Cabello and James Corden ever tried to sing to me in my car pic.twitter.com/13kKzrDEUy

— maybe: clare (@clur19) August 28, 2021

It seems like the Brits took no small amount of joy at the US reaction to Corden’s latest stunt.

Quietly watching Americans complaining about James Corden hoping they don’t try sending him back. pic.twitter.com/Dz6Sv3xn8o

— Lavender The Gremlin (@LavenderGhast) August 30, 2021

Say what you like about London but if James Corden did a dancing flash mob in a ratsuit on Camden Road people would know what to do.

— Sean Bernard (@seanbgoneill) August 28, 2021

James Corden is the UK’s revenge on America for the revolution

— Dray (@Doctor_Dray_) August 28, 2021

The way we’d all collectively do this if James Corden decided to do a flashmob on the road pic.twitter.com/vbkI249eAy

— ????????? (@brotaminz) August 30, 2021

However, some people did come to the actor/host’s defence, including pal Adil Ray, Tweeting, “Why this Twitter hate for James Corden? Get off your bloody phones, off social and get yourself on the boards and win a Tony, co-write one of those most watched shows in recent years and pop off to America and make a huge success of one of the toughest gigs on US TV, then talk.”

The host himself has yet to comment on the internet ruckus but did Tweet: “I guess you guys noticed we were up to something in the crosswalk today,” ending with the eyes emoji.