Emmys 2024: Social media slams Jimmy Kimmel for “distasteful” jokes during Bob Newhart memorial segment
nme.com2024 Emmy Awards – see what he said and social media’s reaction below.During the Emmy Awards earlier today, Jimmy Kimmel paid tribute to the late Bob Newhart, who died in July at the age of 94.
Kimmel’s tribute came immediately after a touching ‘In Memoriam’ segment that included a performance from Jelly Roll.During the ‘In Memoriam’ segment, the Emmys honoured late actors, comedians, producers and other contributors to the TV industry, including James Earl Jones, Shannen Doherty, Chance Perdomo, Donald Sutherland and more.Newhart was the final actor to be honoured during the segment, followed by Kimmel walking onstage to talk about the beloved comedian.
However, Kimmel’s tribute was deemed to be in poor taste by netizens after several jokes fell flat following Jelly Roll’s touching performance.“And the Emmy for deceased industry professional we will miss most goes to…” Kimmel started, before adding: “This is the time in the show when we remember the people who’ve we’ve lost over the last year, one I was very lucky to know, and that was Bob Newhart.”“Those of you who knew Bob, who knew him personally, know he was exactly who you thought he would be.
He did not have range. He didn’t need to have range. Bob had what very few comedians have, especially today: A degree in accounting.”Then, Kimmel turned his attention to Jon Stewart, who won an award earlier in the night: “He had his first Emmy nomination in 1962 and didn’t win one until 2013, 51 years later, which is a great lesson and that lesson is Jon Stewart, you should be ashamed of yourself.
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