Jimmy Kimmel refuses to back down after mocking Secretary Mullin over plumbing background

Kimmel’s comments didn’t sit right with many Republicans, who saw Kimmel as disparaging plumbers and blue-collar workers.

The late-night host addressed the backlash during his show Thursday.

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Kimmel said he saw conservative commentators going "nuts on every channel" over his comment and accused them of twisting his words.

"Of course, they decided to twist that to say it was an insult to plumbers, which it was not," Kimmel said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Secretary Mullin for comment but did not immediately hear back.

The controversy began when Kimmel made the initial comments during his show Tuesday.

He specifically discussed Mullin’s past work as a plumber, comparing his qualifications to those of the Nintendo character from "Super Mario Bros."
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"He's the now-former senator of Oklahoma.

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?" Kimmel said.

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Sen.

Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., wrote on X, "The disdain for which the Democrats and Hollywood elites have for working class Americans - and folks who step up to do important jobs for their country - is shameful.

These people need help."
Sen.

Ted Cruz, R-Texas., also responded on X: "I prefer plumbers to woke & unfunny comedians."