Additional Coverage:
- Jimmy Kimmel’s dark Rudy Giuliani joke just days before ex-mayor in critical condition (irishstar.com)
Jimmy Kimmel has once again sparked controversy following a joke about Rudy Giuliani rising from the grave-remarkably made just days before the former New York City mayor was hospitalized.
Giuliani, 81, was taken to the hospital after hosting his online show, America’s Mayor Live, where he appeared visibly unwell. Representatives confirmed on May 3 that Giuliani was receiving medical care and remained in stable condition, though the exact reason for his admission has not been disclosed.
This is Giuliani’s second recent hospitalization, coming months after a serious car accident that left him with a fractured vertebra. Meanwhile, political tensions continue as Donald Trump criticized Gavin Newsom’s interview and urged Fox News to alter its coverage.
Just days before this hospital stay, Kimmel referenced Giuliani during a segment addressing backlash over his earlier joke about Melania Trump, in which he quipped she had “a glow like an expectant widow.” That comment drew fierce criticism from MAGA supporters, with Trump labeling it a “despicable call to violence” and demanding Kimmel’s immediate firing.
Unfazed, Kimmel confronted the controversy directly on his April 28 show, joking that “America’s mayor, Rudy Giuliani, rose from the grave to weigh in on the ongoing drama involving me.” He then mocked Giuliani and those close to him, asking, “Does this man have any family members who can come get him already?”
Kimmel played clips from Giuliani’s podcast where the former mayor called him “one of the most distasteful human beings in this country.” The audience jeered, and Kimmel shot back, “It hurts to be called distasteful by a man who farted his own pants off in front of Borat’s daughter.”
Continuing his roast, Kimmel aired more of Giuliani’s remarks criticizing him as an “incompetent jacka–” and joking about Kimmel’s failed attempt at hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Responding in classic Kimmel fashion, he quipped, “It’s confusing to be called an incompetent jacka– by a man who accidentally held a press conference outside a dildo store, who can’t tell when videos are running, and has a gallon of squid ink dribbling off the top of his head.”
Following news of Giuliani’s hospitalization, Kimmel faced swift backlash on social media. One user on X questioned, “Why is Kimmel always joking about death?”
Another wrote, “Comedy is not about causing someone else pain. This man is a completely disgusting human being,” while a third demanded, “He needs to be fired.”
As the debate over boundaries in comedy continues, Kimmel’s sharp-witted approach remains a lightning rod for both criticism and applause.