Neil Patrick Harris’ twins aim savage jab at their dads in rare speech
Topics: Neil Patrick Harris, Celebrity
Ben Williams
Featured Image Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Family Equality
Topics: Neil Patrick Harris, Celebrity
Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka’s teenage twins made a rare public appearance this week, and it’s safe to say they had the room laughing.
The How I Met Your Mother star, 52, and his husband, 50, were honoured at Family Equality’s gala in New York City on 11 May, where they received the Luminary Award.
The award was presented to the couple by Elton John and David Furnish, with the event celebrating their work and visibility as parents within the LGBTQ+ community.
Harris and Burtka were joined at the ceremony by their 15-year-old children, Gideon and Harper, who took to the stage to give a speech about their dads.
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Still, rather than simply keeping things emotional, the twins used the moment to make a few jokes at their parents’ expense.
In footage shared by Entertainment Tonight, Gideon could be seen standing at the podium with Harper as their dads watched on nearby.
The young lad teased: “We had twice the dad jokes, and zero the improvement.”
Harper then followed with a reference to one of Harris’ most famous roles, telling the audience: “Whenever I’m confused or doubting myself, papa just turns to me and repeats the family motto: ‘What would Doogie do?’”
The joke was a nod to Harris’ breakout role in Doogie Howser, M.D., in which he played a teenage doctor.
Sharing a series of snaps to Instagram after the event, Harris penned: “We were so honored to be, well, honored by @familyequality with their Luminary Award at this year’s Gala. And introduced by @eltonjohn and @davidfurnish, no less!
“An absolutely wonderful night for a remarkable organization. I’m so proud of my family. Just… yeah. They make me so proud. I feel very #grateful.”
Fans were quick to take to the comments to share their thoughts on the post, with one writing: “Congratulations! The kids are so grown up!”
Another echoed: “When did the kids grow up this much!!”
And someone else commented: “Beautiful twins! Beautiful family!”
Harris and Burtka, who married in 2014 after first going public with their relationship in 2007, welcomed Gideon and Harper in 2010 via surrogate.
The couple has previously opened up about becoming parents, with Harris saying the twins were conceived using an anonymous egg donor and sperm from both him and Burtka.
Speaking to American broadcaster and journalist Barbara Walters in 2014, the actor revealed that he has no interest in finding out which of the twins is biologically his.
He added: "We are their parents and I love them implicitly."
The twins have been seen only occasionally over the years, with fans getting glimpses of them through family photos shared during holidays and special occasions.
Last month, fans were left stunned after seeing how grown-up Gideon and Harper looked during a red carpet appearance for The Lost Boys on Broadway.
Now, their latest appearance has given fans another rare look at the teenagers, who seemed more than comfortable making jokes in front of a crowd.