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American television host Jimmy Kimmel was slammed online after he made a joke about late actor Robert Blake, who passed away recently.
On March 12, the 55-year-old personality was hosting the 95th Academy Awards when he claimed to be introducing an "interactive part of the show" before the ceremony's yearly 'In Memoriam' part.
He said:
"Everybody please get out your phones, even at home, it's time to vote. If you think Robert Blake should be part of the In Memoriam montage, text 'GIMME-A-Blake' to the number on your screen, or to any number."
He then added:
"Text that to your mother if you like. Message and data rates may apply."
"How low can you go?": Twitter reactions to Jimmy Kimmel's comments on Robert Blake
After Jimmy Kimmel's joke about Robert Blake on national television went viral, Twitterati was left furious. Several users slammed the television show host for being insensitive and "tacky" and called him "classless."
Some users also criticized the Oscars for snubbing Blake from the show.
Robert Blake passed away due to a heart disease
Born on September 18, 1933, Robert Blake was a native of New Jersey. The news of his death was confirmed by his niece Noreen Austin on March 9, who added that the actor passed away due to heart disease.
In a statement issued to People Magazine, his niece said that the actor was surrounded by his close friends and family in Los Angeles at the time of passing.
He began his acting career in 1967 as a child actor in the Oscar-nominated film, In Cold Blood. He enjoyed an illustrious career thereafter, before getting entangled and being arrested in the death of his second wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, in 2001.
Bakley was shot to death on May 4, 2001, near an Italian restaurant in Studio City, California, where the couple had just dined.
The case went to court but Blake was pronounced not guilty after no evidence was found against him. He continued to maintain his innocence years after the incident.
While speaking to People Magazine in 2019, Blake's daughter with Bakley, Rose Lenore, spoke about her childhood after her mother passed away.
"I kind of didn't know where she was buried for the longest time. I could have just looked it up, but I didn't. I just don't think I was ready. And then when I was 18, I was like, 'I'm ready. I want to go visit her.' I've dealt with my fair share of sadness in life. But I know I'm going to be okay."
As of writing, the Oscars have not issued any statement regarding Robert Blake being snubbed from the In Memoriam segment.
