Jimmy Kimmel is letting all of the unvaccinated and anti-vaxxers out there how he really feels.
The “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” talk show host is facing some online backlash over a joke he made about unvaccinated people who contract covid-19.
On Tuesday, September 7, his hit late-night talk show returned for its 19th season.
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During his opening monologue, Kimmel made reference to a statement from Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.
On Sunday, September 5, Dr. Fauci said, “We are perilously close in certain areas of the country of getting so close to having full occupancy that you’re going to be in a situation where you’re going to have to make some tough choices.”
When asked by “CNN’s” Jim Acosta if doctors and hospitals will have to choose between giving ICU beds to vaccinated patients versus unvaccinated patients, Fauci replied, “There’s talk of that.”
With covid cases rising and the number of cases surpassing that of last year (at points) and new variants, hospitals are once again filled to the gills with many reporting zero ICU beds available.
Some hospitals are treating twice as many ICU patients as they have capacity for.
US hospitals are nearing ZERO capacity in the ICU
Kimmel’s opening monologue typically errs on the side of comedy but does make a few political politics. I mean how can’t you in this day and age.
He brought up Fauci’s statement and said, “I don’t know. That choice doesn’t seem to tough to me. Vaccinated person having a heart attack? ‘Yes, come right on in, we’ll take you.’ Unvaccinated guy who gobbled horse goo, rest in peace Wheezy.”
The ‘horse goo’ is a direct jab at people who are taking Ivermectin to help treat covid-19 symptoms. Podcast host and comedian, Joe Rogan, was among the most famous to publicly admit he took it to battle his covid-19 symptoms.
Ivermectin is used to treat or prevent parasites in animals such as horses.
Kimmel noted, “We still have a lot of pan-dimwits out there. People are still taking this Ivermectin. You know, the poison control centers have seen a spike in calls from people taking this livestock medicine.”
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He compared people not getting the vaccine, yet pumping themselves full of animal medicine to a vegan who refuses a burger, but will eat Alpo dog food.
He’s got a point…
Despite his best efforts, many are upset with the show host for being so crass and insensitive about the vaccinated vs. unvaccinated.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz tweeted in response to Kimmel’s joke, “Sick. Angry Leftist to anyone who disagrees with him on vaccines: ‘Rest in peace, wheezy.’ THAT’S AN ACTUAL QUOTE. I’ve been vaccinated, but I don’t wish death on those who make different choices.”
Sick. Angry Leftist to anyone who disagrees with him on vaccines:
“Rest in peace, wheezy.”
THAT’S AN ACTUAL QUOTE.
I’ve been vaccinated, but I don’t wish death on those who make different choices.#BeBetter https://t.co/vXORAM0mhB
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 8, 2021
Another said, “What a vaxxhole. Jimmy Kimmel mocks the unvaccinated, says they should be refused ICU beds.”
There were MANY more sentiments along the lines of ‘vaxx hole.’
However, there were a few who agreed with the late-night host.
“I agree with @jimmykimmel.Vaccinated people are done playing games. If you are unvaccinated by choice, and not because you are under 12 or medically exempt, and you need medical help, go find that Fox News doctor with the demon spells. Science is officially deworming you,” said one fan in response to the uproar.
Kimmel made a few other poignant political and pop-culture jokes to get the show on the road. “Britney Spears is free and every woman in the state of Texas isn’t,” he said.