Television host Jimmy Kimmel sparked controversy on Twitter this week after labeling a tweet from Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about weight gain during COVID-19 lockdowns as "nonsense." Kennedy Jr.'s tweet stated that Americans gained an average of 29 pounds during the lockdowns. Kimmel responded with skepticism, questioning the statistic and even comparing Kennedy Jr. to the satirical character Borat.
However, a "community note" later added to Kennedy Jr.'s tweet confirmed that a study did indeed find that among the 42% of Americans who gained weight during the pandemic, the average increase was 29 pounds. This clarification led to widespread criticism of Kimmel, with many social media users accusing him of misunderstanding the concept of "average." Several prominent figures joined the chorus of criticism, including Blaze TV host Sarah Gonzalez, actress Collete Harrington, and attorney Jenin Younes, who all pointed out the factual basis of Kennedy Jr.'s claim.
Jimmy Kimmel, left, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (Getty Images)
Jimmy Kimmel hosts the 2017 Oscars. (Eddy Chen/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. visits "The Faulkner Focus" at Fox News Channel Studios in New York City on June 2, 2023. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
