“Comedian” Jimmy Kimmel is sorry, not sorry, for making sexist, homophobic attacks against Fox News host Sean Hannity. Amid backlash from gay-rights advocates and bipartisan outrage on social media, Kimmel issued a passive-aggressive faux “apology” on Twitter.
“I most certainly did not intend to belittle or upset members of the gay community and to those who took offense, I apologize,” Kimmel tweeted (see below). In other words, Kimmel is sorry if you took offense — not that he said something offensive.
Kimmel began his note: “While I admit I did have fun with our little back and forth, after some thought, I realize that the level of vitriol from all sides (mine and me included) does nothing good for anyone and, in fact, is harmful to our country.”
He then made light of his anti-immigrant insult mocking Melania Trump’s accent. For the record, millions of Americans have accents or live in homes where they were raised by parents with foreign accents. We thought liberals loved immigrants? (Or maybe they just love illegal immigrants.)
“I will take Sean Hannity at his word that he was genuinely offended by what I believed and still believe to be a harmless and silly aside referencing our First Lady’s accent,” Kimmel tweeted. “Mrs. Trump almost certainly has enough to worry about without being used as a prop to increase TV ratings.”
re. @seanhannity pic.twitter.com/DMtWJTMsDU
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) April 8, 2018
Hannity did not reply on Twitter to Kimmel’s non-apology, saying he will address the matter on his show Monday night (April 9).
“I am at a tournament with my daughter,” Sean tweeted. “I’ll have a full and comprehensive response tomorrow on ‘Hannity.’”
Just had this pop up. I am at a tournament with my daughter. I’ll have a full and comprehensive response tomorrow on Hannity. 9 EST FOX. pic.twitter.com/JLdZDa07BI
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 8, 2018
The brouhaha erupted last week after Kimmel mocked Melania Trump‘s accent on his late-night TV show. “Like dis and dat,” Kimmel taunted, impersonating her Slovenian accent.
Melania speaks five languages, while Kimmel can barely speak one.
Multilingual Melania Trump dazzles in more ways than one while visiting France | Conservative News Todayhttps://t.co/eVTcahdJqc
— All American Girl (@AIIAmericanGirI) July 13, 2017
Hannity responded the next day on his show by calling Kimmel an “ass-clown.”
“What a disgrace!” Hannity said. “That’s her fifth language. How many do you speak?”
An enraged Kimmel reacted by slamming Hannity on Twitter, writing: “If I’m an ass clown — and I might very well be — you, Sean, are the whole ass circus.”
Hannity reminded Kimmel of the time he used blackface in a skit involving former NBA great Karl Malone. “You are also a racist bigot,” Hannity said.
And @jimmykimmel you are also a racist bigot. #pervertkimmel @Disney pic.twitter.com/to6T9xzIFF
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 7, 2018
After some more verbal jabs back-and-forth on Twitter, Kimmel crossed the line by bringing Hannity’s 16-year-old daughter into the feud, asking: “Would you want your daughter being “grabbed by the p*ssy? Yes or no?”
Kimmel then upped the ante by making a homophobic dig with a lewd sexual reference to Hannity and President Trump.
Don’t worry – just keep tweeting – you’ll get back on top! (or does Trump prefer you on bottom?) Either way, keep your chin up big fella..XO https://t.co/R4QJCoGYCL
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) April 6, 2018
Jimmy Kimmel’s passive-aggressive non-apology was evicerated on Twitter, with many pointing out that it was not a sincere apology, but merely a response to heavy backlash on social media and pressure from his network bosses.
Conservative author Michelle Malkin observed: “Looks like Disney overlords gave the accent-mocking, gay sex-deriding, holier-than-thou late-night minstrel a dressing down.”
Looks like Disney overlords gave the accent-mocking, gay sex-deriding, holier-than-thou late-night minstrel a dressing down.
How incorrigibly lame & gutless of Jeering Jimmy to play victim to distract from his own rude dragging of @seanhannity ‘s daughter into failed battle. https://t.co/gWMiFmvSPz— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) April 8, 2018
Another person wrote: “This is not an apology, Jimmy Kimmel. This is you being threatened by your sponsors. NOWHERE do you apologize to FLOTUS, Sean Hannity’s daughter, or millions of others you’ve offended.”
This is not an apology @jimmykimmel @JimmyKimmelLive.
This is you being threatened by your sponsors.
NOWHERE do you apologize to @FLOTUS, @seanhannity daughter, or millions of others you’ve offended.
Put out a REAL apology & you might be taken seriously! https://t.co/EzSsJgfGht
— Jali_Cat (@Jali_Cat) April 8, 2018
Via BizPAC
