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Jimmy Kimmel runs face-first into fact check when he tries to mock RFK Jr. for ‘nonsense’ stat

June 28, 2023 | | Print Article

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel got schooled on basic math after a “chronically unfunny” attempt to dunk on Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

“Ladies and gentlemen… The devastating results of the Writer’s Guild strike..”

Following Kennedy’s shirtless display at Venice Beach, California’s Gold’s Gym, the environmental lawyer turned candidate had taken to Twitter with a number of thoughts touting the importance of physical activity over pharmaceutical intervention for health.

In part, his platform of self-discipline over syringes struck a chord with the jab-peddling cheerleaders of The Science™, or at the very least their financial backers, prodding ABC’s Kimmel to make a fool out of himself.

“As President, I will restore America as the global example of health & well-being. Not through pills or syringes, but through character and self-discipline. And I will continue to walk the walk and lead by example,” RFK Jr. had written after a video of him doing pushups.

The candidate continued, “Americans gained an average of 29 pounds during the Covid lockdowns. I will help turn this around by encouraging our citizens to exercise, eat well, and fortify their immune systems by removing harmful chemicals from our food.”

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Quote tweeting the post, Kimmel humorlessly said, “wow! we each gained 29 lbs? that almost sounds like nonsense! (there’s a good possibility this guy is Borat).”

Even without Community Notes, it was apparent the comedian had made himself the punchline, but the Twitter feature leveled up the degree of his self-own.

“According to a 2021 APA survey, 42% of Americans gained undesired weight during the lockdowns, with the average weight gain of those individuals being 29 lbs,” the note indicated.

Whether playing stupid or otherwise, Kimmel’s portrayal of Kennedy’s post as “nonsense” was too flagrant of an unforced error to avoid a serious ratio.

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“I feel like you don’t understand averages…” said one of many users, pointing toward the host’s displayed ineptitude for mathematical terms. As another pointed out “You don’t know what average means,” a reply quipped harder, “But he knows what being below average means.”

Others, perhaps content with the affirmation of their perceived level of Kimmel’s intellect, instead ripped the effort to make a joke that left a lot to be desired.

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“Ladies and gentlemen… The devastating results of the Writer’s Guild strike,” suggested radio host Larry O’Connor as someone else cringed, “You need your writers back…this is terrible.”

“Jimmy doesn’t know what the word average means,” joked another with a solid delivery. “Ironic considering it’s how his entire career could be described as.”

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One standout had more than doubled the number of likes to Kimmel’s post at the time, scoring over 19,000 to his 8,100 with a burn that would hit home to all attention-craving celebrities, “Your entire industry got shut down and nobody even recognized you were gone…Your opinion is irrelevant.”

Kevin Haggerty
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