Jimmy Kimmel Blasted by Mike Rowe After ‘Plumber’ Comments
What To Know
- Mike Rowe criticized Jimmy Kimmel for making jokes about Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s background as a plumber.
- Rowe defended Mullin’s career trajectory from plumber to successful businessman and public servant.
- Kimmel’s remarks, which questioned Mullin’s qualifications and mocked his previous profession, sparked backlash for being elitist.
Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe is not happy with Jimmy Kimmel after the comedian made a joke about new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and his background as a plumber.
In a lengthy X post, Rowe wrote, “Being offended is always a choice, and I don’t choose to be offended by a joke, even one that comes at the expense of the skilled tradespeople my foundation tries to elevate. But I am a tad butt hurt by the suggestion that skilled workers should never evolve into something new, and that competence is somehow limited to one vocation.”
Rowe, who runs the nonprofit organization mikeroweWORKS, which promotes skilled labor, said, “Obviously, expertise and skill are important. If I need a new kidney, I’d prefer a doctor do the surgery, not a late-night talk show host. But if the doctor in question used to host a talk show, why would I hold that against him?”
The Discovery Channel narrator called Kimmel’s quips “tone deaf” and said it should serve as a reminder that “the skills gap is wide and getting wider” in America.
He went on to praise Mullin, saying, “He was a private citizen who mastered an essential skill and then turned that skill into a multimillion-dollar company… That gave him the freedom to do other things with his life, including a career in public service, which got him into Congress… Now he has a very consequential position in the Cabinet of the current administration.”
“Is that not the embodiment of the American Dream?” Rowe asked.
He went on to note that he understands Kimmel “might have a problem with Mullin’s politics,” but he didn’t get why he would object to the “trajectory of his career, or his desire to do more than one thing with his life?”
“I’d love to chat but I’ve gotta pull a rat out of my toilet,” Rowe concluded.
Kimmel faced backlash last week after mocking Mullin’s background on an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! “Before he was elected to the Senate, Markwayne Mullin was a low-level MMA fighter and a plumber. That’s right. We have a plumber protecting us from terrorism now. It worked for Super Mario. Why not Markwayne?” the late-night host quipped.
He continued, “But honestly, I mean, if Trump is going to keep picking these unqualified people to run the department, why not have more fun with it? Next time, instead of Markwayne, how about Lil Wayne for Homeland Security? At least we can get a concert out of it, right?”
After criticism over his comments, Kimmel addressed the issue in the next episode. “I’m not upset that the head of Homeland Security used to be a plumber,” he said. “I’m upset that he isn’t still a plumber… I wouldn’t put a plumber in charge of Homeland Security for the same reason I wouldn’t call a five-star general to pull a rat out of my toilet… We all have our areas of expertise.”
Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Weeknights, 11:35/10:35c, ABC
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P
I think Jimmy Kimmel is really over rated as a comedian. He might think he's a great comedian, but in reality, he couldn't fill a cavity on Johnny Carson. He rips into people that he really doesn't even know. He thinks he's funny. I'm not sure even what station he is on, but when they fired him, they should of let him go. He's a real POS. And remember one thing, & this is very important. People can go through lives with out the need of a stupid comedian like Jimmy Kimmel, but everyone and I mean everyone needs a plumber when they get up in the morning,,,,,,,,,,,,
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J
It’s funny how some of the political analyst and politicians themselves who are criticizing Jimmy Kimmel for making a joke about Mullins qualifications to be director of homeland security, are the same ones who were ridiculing AOC for being a bartender prior to getting into politics. Leaving out the fact that she’s also very well educated and focusing on the fact that she was a bartender kind of like Jimmy was focusing on Mullin’s past plumbing experience. Kind of seems a bit hypocritical to me.
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M
“Obviously, expertise and skill are important. If I need a new kidney, I’d prefer a doctor do the surgery, not a late-night talk show host. But if the doctor in question used to host a talk show, why would I hold that against him?”
In this case the surgeon better have gone to med school graduated and had all the training to become a surgeon.
Markwayne Mullin is not qualified to be Secretary of Homeland Security.
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W
Mike Rowe: Have been a fan up until now and liked your book but based on your comments I’m rethinking my choices. You were missing the point of JK’s statements! He never slammed or spoke against plumbers, just that a plumber is not qualified to run Homeland Security!! Stop making this something it isn’t with prejudice comments! I wouldn’t want you or Jimmy Kimmel to run Homeland Security either!! And you are so far from “a blue collar guy!” You don’t actually do “dirty jobs,” you just talk about them!! Asking AI your wealth status, “Mike Rowe has an estimated net worth of approximately
$30 million to $35 million. He has accumulated his wealth primarily through his career as a television host, narrator, and producer, most notably for the Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs.” So, not actually doing “blue collar work or a tradesperson’s job” anymore! Get off your high horse and you’re just as out of touch as the next celebrity when it comes to working manual labor these days! I don’t know many manual labor jobs where people make 35 million!
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