If comedy really is tragedy plus time, Jimmy Kimmel might want to tinker with his equations a little. At least, that seems to be the conclusion of some critics who took issue with his jokes about the passing of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner on Thursday’s airing of “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
Kimmel riffed on the death of the publishing giant, who died Wednesday at age 91.
“Hugh Hefner passed away yesterday at home at the Playboy Mansion. He was pronounced dead of natural causes causes, although they won’t be able to rule out foul play for quite some time because of all the DNA evidence they found in the house,” Kimmel cracked. “It might take 20 years.”
“I was thinking about it last night; Hugh Hefner is probably the only person ever to be disappointed by heaven; ‘What’s with all these harps? Let’s get some naked girls in here!'” Kimmel continued.
Kimmel also wisecracked, “Mr. Hefner was an advocate for racial equality, free speech and equal rights, but mostly he’ll be remembered for the boobs.”
The late-night host’s jokes rubbed some people the wrong way, judging from comments left under the YouTube video of the segment.
“What a way to trivialize someone’s death and make a joke out of it regardless of the man’s personal life he had kids and a family dad loves and is going to miss him and you’re making a joke that he’s dead,” went another critical response.
To be sure, Kimmel had his defenders.
“it’s not disrespectful, it’s his job to make jokes,” read one pro-Kimmel response.
“it’s not to soon he wasn’t violently killed the man lived a great life and died happy,” another responder reasoned.
Watch the segment and share your thoughts in the comments section: Did Jimmy Kimmel jump the gun with his Hugh Hefner jokes?
10 Major Moments from Hugh Hefner's Career (Photos)
Playboy Magazine founder Hugh Hefner built an empire publishing nude photos and high-quality interviews. Over the years, he also became known for as a reality TV Star and philanthropist as well as a media mogul. Here are 10 key moments from Hefner’s groundbreaking career.
Leaving Esquire
In 1952, Hefner worked as a copywriter at Esquire. After being denied a $5 raise, he quit the magazine, determined to start his own. He took out a mortgage of $600 and raised another $8,000 from 45 investors, including $1,000 from his own mother.
Playboy’s first issue
Hefner used the seed money to start Playboy Magazine (although the name changed: It was originally going to be called Stag Party, but Hefner couldn’t use that name because someone else owned the trademark). The first issue hit newsstands in 1953, featuring nude photos of Marilyn Monroe from a 1949 calendar shoot. The issue was a hit, selling more than 50,000 copies.
"Playboy’s Penthouse"
Hefner hosted the short-lived variety and talk TV show “Playboy’s Penthouse” in 1959, which was set up like a part at his apartment helped make the Playboy Bunnies famous. The show featured interviews with celebrities and featured names like Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald. It ended in 1961 after one season, but helped popularize Hef's famous "Playboy lifestyle."
Dick Gregory at the Playboy Club
With the success of Playboy, Hefner began growing a corporate empire. He founded the Playboy Club in Chicago and hired comedian Dick Gregory after seeing him perform at another club. The regular gig at the Playboy Club marked the big break for Gregory’s career.
A reputation for journalism
In 1962, Playboy started to develop its reputation for journalism with the first Playboy Interview, in which author Alex Haley interviewed musician Miles Davis. Playboy became known for high-quality, revealing interviews with famous subjects over the subsequent years.
Arrest for selling obscene literature
Hefner was arrested and went to trial after being accused of selling obscene literature in 1963, after the publishing of an issue that featured nude photos of actress Jayne Mansfield. The jury was unable to reach a verdict, though, and the charges were eventually dropped.
"Playboy After Dark"
In 1969, Hefner hosted another variety show similar to “Playboy’s Penthouse,” but with a more rock and roll focus. The show featured guests such as Sammy Davis Jr., James Brown and Milton Berle, but only ran until 1970.
Stepping away from the empire
Hefner suffered a small stroke in 1985, which caused him to re-evaluate the Playboy lifestyle. He named his daughter chair and CEO of the Playboy empire in 1988, but stayed on at the magazine as editor-in-chief. After that, Hefner turned much of his attention to philanthropic efforts through the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation, often focusing on First Amendment freedoms and promoting free expression.
“The Girls Next Door”
In 2006, Hefner starred in “The Girls Next Door,” a reality show about the daily lives of his three girlfriends at the time, Holly Madison, Kendra Wilkinson and Bridget Marquardt, who lived with him in the Playboy Mansion. The show ran for six seasons and 90 episodes, ending in 2010.
Razzie nomination
After playing himself in the 2009 movie “Miss March,” Hefner was nominated for a Razzie award for “Worst Supporting Actor.” He joked about the nomination on his Twitter account, saying, “Maybe he didn’t understand the character.”
1 of 11
Hugh Hefner’s career as a media mogul spanned more than 50 years
Playboy Magazine founder Hugh Hefner built an empire publishing nude photos and high-quality interviews. Over the years, he also became known for as a reality TV Star and philanthropist as well as a media mogul. Here are 10 key moments from Hefner’s groundbreaking career.
