Jimmy Kimmel laughs off Marjorie Taylor Greene reporting him to police: 'Officer? I would like to report a joke.'
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is taking one late night joke pretty seriously — so much so that she says she reported it to police.
Greene on Twitter took issue with Jimmy Kimmel recently joking on his show that he wants Will Smith to slap her. "@ABC, this threat of violence against me by @jimmykimmel has been filed with the @CapitolPolice," Greene tweeted, posting a clip of the joke.
Kimmel laughed off the tweet, responding, "Officer? I would like to report a joke."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The joke in question came in response to Greene claiming that Republicans who support Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson "are pro-pedophile." Referring to Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars over a joke about his wife, Kimmel said, "Wow, where is Will Smith when you really need him?" The joke received applause from Kimmel's audience.
Greene, who has been criticized for suggesting she supported executing Democrats and was stripped of her committee assignments in 2021, has been a frequent subject of ridicule on Kimmel's show. He has also referred to her as "Klan mom" and the "sorriest excuse for a congresswoman we've ever had."
Kimmel previously criticized Smith's actions at the Oscars, saying Rock "did not deserve to be slapped in the face for a joke." Greene, though, said she appreciated Smith's "Alpha male response of a husband defending his wife," adding, "It was much better than a Twitter fight with people saying tough things on their keyboard behind their screen."
Capitol Police hasn't confirmed that Greene filed a report, but her office said that it "takes all threats of violence towards the Congresswoman very seriously," claiming, "Last night, Jimmy Kimmel called for violence to be committed against Congresswoman Greene. It will not be tolerated."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Arizona kicks off swing-state early voting
Speed Read The voting began with less than a month to go before the presidential election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Netanyahu talk ahead of Israeli hit on Iran
Speed Read The pair spoke for the first time since August
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump kept up with Putin, sent Covid tests, book says
Speed Read The revelation comes courtesy of a new book by Bob Woodward
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Liz Cheney campaigns with Harris in Wisconsin
Speed Read The pair does not agree on much politically, but they share an anti-Trump stance
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Harris visit storm-hit North Carolina, Georgia
Speed Read President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took separate tours of the south to view the catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Jack Smith filing details Jan. 6 case against Trump
Speed Read The special counsel's newly unsealed brief argues Trump is not immune from prosecution and gives new details on his efforts to overturn the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockade
Speed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published