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Notes -
There is a different standard for the jokes of a network television host, than there is for the jokes of a shock jock or a horrible person on South Park. With the network variety show, the implicit agreement with the audience is that "these are the kinds of jokes you can re-tell in polite company; these are the kind of jokes that good people can tell." So when he tells a joke that only Cartman or Howard Stern would tell, he is not doing his job correctly.
There is also a different standard for jokes about self-inflicted stupid deaths versus tragic deaths versus murders versus political assassinations. This is the most significant political assassination in the United Sates since RFK. I highly doubt any network comedian was making RFK jokes a week after his death. I remember Princess Diana jokes, but I highly doubt they were made a week or a month within her death on network TV.
Looks like a local sports radio host specifically mocked Halladay's death, and the stupidity of his actions, but he was widely criticized for this and forced to issue a public apology: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/nov/09/boston-radio-host-mocks-moron-roy-halladay-after-death-in-plane-crash-at-40
Part of the disconnect is that for some people, Kirk's killing is just another in the mental bucket of "mass shooters", and not an actual assassination. Remember that Kirk, for all his influence, was an influencer/activist/organizer, not an official (and never was, and claimed not to want to be).
Kimmel's larger bit is actually about Trump not being sad enough about Kirk. Yes, that's a low blow, but the implication of that is... well, actually that Kirk's death was a big deal and Trump should care more. I mean, his crowd isn't that sympathetic to Kirk of course but it's not like Kimmel said anything bad about Kirk in that quote. He's guilty of using Kirk's death as a weapon, like what he accuses MAGA of doing, is that cancellable?
The line between letting a tragedy be a tragedy, and using a tragedy in a bigger political debate has already been thinning quite a bit. Especially about gun violence related things.
On the whole though I do appreciate your point. I don't consider Kimmel a network TV host, though, despite the facts of his position, because the whole point of late-night was originally that the typical audience wouldn't be watching! It's the adults doing adult-interest things.
I think this it, the motivation for taking Kimmel down wasn't misinformation but the seeming concern trolling. He made Trump look insensitive and petty, and that stings.
Uh -- did you find it funny?
Like, I'm all for funny jokes -- but isn't rule #1 of comedy that if you're gonna be edgy you do need to keep in mind that you also have to be funny?
Objectively speaking, that was not a funny joke.
(Not the GP) "Ah yes, the fourth stage of grief: construction." made me giggle.
EDIT: I do think the "MAGA trying desperately to pin it on anyone else" bit is misinformation and pretty reprehensible, but not cancellable.
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Oh, he made TRUMP look petty and insensitive. That's it.
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