Jimmy Kimmel responded on air by trying to explain the “gray area America no longer believes exists.” He admitted the timing of the joke was bad but argued it was aimed at power and age, not about “death or destiny.” He reminded viewers that he has spent years criticizing gun culture, not supporting it, and rejected the idea that comedy was responsible for real-world violence. At the same time, he strongly pushed back against calls for punishment. He argued that Donald Trump has long used harsh rhetoric, “dehumanizing language, and fantasies of violence” that have shaped public conversation far more...
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