“Jeopardy!” champion Ken Jennings is attempting to backtrack on years of insults hurled at conservatives and others on his Twitter feed in what some have speculated is a bid for the popular game show’s open host position.
Jennings, who is a Brett Kavanaugh rape truther and currently an interim host of “Jeopardy!” following the death of longtime host Alex Trebek in November, issued a statement on Twitter on Wednesday addressing any “insensitive” and “unartful” content he has shared in the past.
“Hey, I just wanted to own up to the fact that over the years on Twitter, I’ve definitely tweeted some unartful and insensitive things. Sometimes they worked as jokes in my head and I was dismayed to see how they read on-screen,” Jennings wrote, claiming he did not delete his tweets “just so they could be dunked on” and so he wouldn’t be “whitewashing.” He continued the thread by claiming it “wasn’t my intention to hurt anyone.”
“Sometimes I said dumb things in a dumb way and I want to apologize to people who were (rightfully!) offended,” the tweet read. “It wasn’t my intention to hurt anyone, but that doesn’t matter: I screwed up, and I’m truly sorry.”
In the past, I'd usually leave bad tweets up just so they could be dunked on. At least that way they could lead to smart replies and even advocacy. Deleting them felt like whitewashing a mistake. 2/x
— Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) December 30, 2020
Despite Jennings’ opportunistic apology attempts, people are questioning the sincerity of his words following years of disparaging tweets.
ABC realized conservatives watch jeopardy too. This was 6 months ago. https://t.co/uaRDdCciQb pic.twitter.com/wk9TSqYjaf
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) December 30, 2020
Jennings doesn’t feel bad about the vile things he’s said about anyone who isn’t a left-wing Democrat. He hates conservatives and pro-lifers. He’s a Brett Kavanaugh rape truther. But he wants to host Jeopardy so he’s going to lie and pretend he’s sorry. https://t.co/lNZD1eOImu
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) December 30, 2020
This is a fine apology thread, but how is a tweet like this not meant to hurt anyone? I don’t understand that claim. https://t.co/ykN4DWH1de pic.twitter.com/NEGnzVI5Zz
— Jerry Christmas (@JerryDunleavy) December 30, 2020
KEN JENNINGS IS THE WORST. This guy is the most annoying and arrogant jerk — and so hostile to the half of the country that doesn't enjoy his deeply held, anti-conservative screeds. Excuse me for not buying the too-convenient and desperate timing of his "please hire me" apology. https://t.co/v37nUOCbgb
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) December 30, 2020
While his range of offensive content is wide, Jennings has made plenty of political jabs in the past, pushing false claims about now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, advocating for the murder of babies in the womb, and insulting people who aren’t left-wing Democrats like he is.
[sees a former frat boy accused by three pretty credible women of sexual assault] WHOA, THIS GUY IS JUST LIKE JESUS CHRIST
— Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) September 28, 2018
Certainly unspoken in the joke is my belief that abortion is not the moral equivalent of murder or slavery.
— Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) January 27, 2017
Ted Cruz tries to hug Jesus; Jesus squirms away awkwardly.
— Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) February 2, 2016
In Trump's defense, he is an incredibly stupid man.
— Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) May 16, 2017
Other notable categories include insulting the disabled, once tweeting that there is “nothing sadder than a hot person in a wheelchair,” joking about cancer patients, and mocking other peoples’ religions, race, and prayers.
Have you considered that your thoughts and prayers aren't doing jack shit
— Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) October 2, 2017
White Babies® : The Official Least Cute Baby Race to White People Everywhere.
— Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) January 13, 2013
