Joe Rogan defends Kimmel amid backlash over Melania Trump joke
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Podcaster Joe Rogan defended late-night host Jimmy Kimmel against backlash following a controversial joke aimed at First Lady Melania Trump.
Kimmel joked that Melania had a “widow-in-waiting” glow in a mock White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner skit days before Saturday’s shooting; It was a joke that Rogan said “nobody cared” until it happened.
“It came out on Thursday. Nobody cared about Friday. Nobody cared until Saturday night when the assassination attempt happened, and then suddenly everyone blamed Kimmel,” Rogan said on “The Joe Rogan Experience” on Friday.
While examining the meaning behind Kimmel’s joke, Rogan suggested it could be interpreted in a variety of ways, such as President Donald Trump’s old age or dark political humor.
KIMMEL CALLS MELANIA TRUMP ‘THE EXPECTED WIDOW’ AHEAD OF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER SHOOT
Rogan suggested Kimmel’s joke could be interpreted in a variety of ways, such as President Donald Trump’s old age or dark political humor. (Left (Jim WATSON/AFP via Getty Images), Right (Randy Holmes/Disney via Getty Images))
“It could be [an old guy joke] Or an assassination joke if you want to take it that way. But he’s old,” Rogan said.
The suspected shooter at the WHCA Dinner, computer scientist Cole Allen of Torrance, California, allegedly wrote in a manifesto note that his targets were Trump administration officials other than FBI Director Kash Patel.
Rogan’s remarks come after Kimmel faced a wave of backlash, including from those directly targeted by the joke.
TRUMP WHITE HOUSE CALLS KIMMEL ‘INCOMPLETE’ AND WANTS HIM TO BE FIRED
Melania Trump condemned the remarks as inappropriate and harmful in a statement on Monday morning.
“His monologue about my family is not comedy; his words are corrosive and deepen the political sickness in America,” he said.
President Trump responded by calling for Kimmel to fire Truth Social and defend his wife against this “despicable” action.
Melania Trump and Jimmy Kimmel stand together in a photo. (Getty Images)
“I appreciate that many people are outraged by Kimmel’s vile call for violence and would normally not respond to anything he says, but this is way beyond the norm,” Trump wrote. “Jimmy Kimmel should be fired immediately by Disney and ABC.”
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Kimmel did not apologize for the joke and appeared on Monday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” He rejected the criticism by responding in the episode.
“You know sometimes you wake up in the morning and the First Lady has made a statement demanding that you be fired from your job? We’ve all been there, right?”
