Jimmy Kimmel and Sean Hannity Feud
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Overview
Jimmy Kimmel and Sean Hannity Feud was a series of traded insults between late-night talkshow host Jimmy Kimmel and political Fox News commentator Sean Hannity.
Background
During the April 2nd, 2018 broadcast of The Jimmy Kimmel Show, host Jimmy Kimmel joked about 2018 White House Easter Egg Roll. Towards the end of the segment, Kimmel aired a clip of First Lady Melania Trump reading a children's book to child attendees of the event (shown below). Afterwards, he made a joke in which he appeared to imitate Trump's accent, and then looked over to Guillermo Rodriguez, Kimmel's on-air side kick, band member and a latino immigrant who has a thick Spanish accent, and said, ""You know what this means? You could be first lady of the United States."[1]
Developments
The following day, Fox News commentator Sean Hannity said on his television show, "Liberal Jimmy Kimmel, making fun of the first lady of the United States and her involvement in the White House Easter Egg Roll. Assclown Kimmel. Now, I’m going to tell you something: What a disgrace. Hey, Mr. Kimmel, that’s her fifth language. How many do you speak?”
Kimmel responded by turning his attention to Hannity. On Kimmel on April 4th, the host devoted nearly five minutes to Hannity and the controversy (shown below).[2]
On April 5th, following Kimmel's response, Hannity began posting clips and images from Kimmel's former Comedy Central series The Man Show.[9] During the tweets, he referred to Kimmel as a "pervert" and began calling him "Harvey Weinstein Jr."/:memes/events/harvey-weinstein-sexual-harassment-allegations, accusing him of sexual misconduct during these old comedy segments. He posted a clip from the series entitled "Guess What's In My Pants." During the segment, he asks women on the streets to guess what is his pants by touching Kimmel's crotch (shown below). He tweeted, "Also @jimmykimmel attacking @MELANIATRUMP while reading a book to kids? What happened to 'Mr Morality'? Attacking a woman who is helping children? This is @Disney? #pervertkimmel."[12]
That night he tweeted, [3] "So @jimmykimmel (aka Harvey Weinstein jr) I’ll have much more tomorrow…… @Disney Tick Tock.. Best Sean #pervertkimmel." The post (shown below, left) received more than 4,500 retweets, 2,700 comments and 13,000 likes in four days.
The following day, Hannity tweeted[4] a list of episodes The Man Show printed from Wikipedia. The post (shown below, center) received more than 500 retweets and 2,100 likes in three days.
That night, Kimmel responded on Twitter,[5] Dear @SeanHannity thx for the trip down Man Show memory lane. The idea that YOU'd call ANYONE a 'pervert' while slobbering over Trump, Ailes, O’Reilly and, YES, Roy Moore – who you DID SUPPORT is, to quote a fella you love very much, 'Sad!' #nobodyissafefromKimmelspervertedwrath." The post (shown below, right) received more than 13,000 retweets and 73,000 likes in three days.
"Homophobic" Tweet
On April 6th, Kimmel responded to one of Hannity's tweets by posting,[8] "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." Within three days, the post (shown below) received more than 8,200 retweets, 7,700 comments and 54,000.
Some online accused the tweet of homophobia. The Daily Beast[10] wrote, "Why do “progressive” comedians so readily jump to homophobic jokes when it comes to mocking conservatives? Either insinuating that they like receiving anal sex via bottoming--or any other homosexual sex act--is the surefire way to knock someone down a peg. Because insisting that they’re gay must be the ultimate insult, right? Because the insinuation that a man might want to have sex with another man is somehow funny. The act itself is comical."
Apology
On April 8th, Kimmel apologized for the back-and-forth on Twitter.[6] He tweeted, "While I admit I did have fun with our 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." Within 24 hours, the post (shown below, left) received more than 9,600 retweets and 72,000 likes.
Hannity responded to the apology by stating he would respond on his television series. He tweeted,[7] 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." The post (shown below, right) received more than 4,300 retweets and 16,000 likes in 24 hours.
Media Coverage
Several media outlets covered the feud, including CNN, The Daily Beast, The Washington Post, USA Today[11] and more.
Search Interest
External References
[1] CNN – Sean Hannity, who mocked Michelle Obama, says it's wrong to mock Melania Trump
[2] The Washington Post – This vitriol is ‘harmful to our country’: Jimmy Kimmel tries to end his feud with Sean Hannity
[3] Twitter – @seanhannity's Tweet
[4] Twitter – @seanhannity's Tweet
[5] Twitter – @jimmykimmel's Tweet
[6] Twitter – @jimmykimmel's Tweets
[7] Twitter – @seanhannity's Tweet
[8] Twitter – @jimmykimmel's Tweet
[9] The Daily Beast – Sean Hannity Is Losing His Mind Over Jimmy Kimmel
[10] The Daily Beast – Jimmy Kimmel’s Homophobic Attacks on Sean Hannity Expose a Liberal Blind Spot
[11] USA Today – Jimmy Kimmel quits feud with Sean Hannity, apologizes for joking about Melania Trump
[12] Twitter – @seanhannity's Tweet
