Former President Joe Biden drew unexpected attention during a memorial service honoring civil rights icon Jesse Jackson when an off-the-cuff remark briefly shifted the event’s tone.

Speaking Friday at Chicago’s House of Hope arena, Biden joined a long list of prominent leaders and dignitaries paying tribute to Jackson, who died at the age of 84. The service brought together former presidents, civil rights advocates, and political figures reflecting on Jackson’s decades of influence in American public life.

During his remarks, Biden spoke candidly about growing up with a stutter and the challenges he faced as a child when people misunderstood his speech impediment.

“If I told you I had a cleft palate or clubfoot, none of you would have laughed,” Biden said while recalling how others reacted to his stutter growing up. “But it’s OK to laugh at stuttering. … It’s the one place where people think you’re stupid.”

He then added, “Oh, really? I’m a h— of a lot smarter than most of you,” before quickly softening the moment and returning to the point he was making about how ridicule can affect a young person’s sense of worth. “But all kidding aside, it makes you feel really small,” he said.

The remark quickly circulated online after the memorial service, drawing mixed reactions on social media. Some users questioned the timing of the comment during a funeral service, while others defended Biden’s broader point about overcoming adversity.

The memorial itself focused largely on Jackson’s lasting impact on American politics and the civil rights movement. A close associate of Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson rose to prominence during the height of the Civil Rights Movement before founding the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and launching two historic presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988. Those campaigns significantly expanded Black voter participation and helped reshape the Democratic Party’s political coalition.

The service featured appearances from several national leaders, including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and civil rights activist Al Sharpton.

At one point in his speech, Biden also reflected on conversations with Jackson about global issues, mentioning his desire years earlier to meet South African leader Nelson Mandela. Biden noted Africa’s rapidly growing population, predicting the continent will become the world’s most populous region by 2050.

Despite the brief controversy surrounding Biden’s remark, the service remained largely centered on Jackson’s enduring legacy. Speakers throughout the memorial praised the longtime activist for building political bridges, elevating marginalized voices, and inspiring generations to pursue justice and equality.

For many in attendance, the gathering served as a reminder that Jackson’s influence stretched far beyond politics — touching faith communities, civil rights organizations, and countless individuals who saw in him a relentless advocate for dignity and opportunity.