Franklin Graham defends Melania Trump after Jimmy Kimmel makes fun of her accent

Evangelist Franklin Graham got upset after Jimmy Kimmel made a joke at the expense of First Lady Melania Trump.

On ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on April 2, the host mocked the First Lady's reading of a children's book during the White House Easter egg hunt. Melania, who was born in Slovenia, speaks English with an accent, something Kimmel made sport of when he imitated her "dees and dat," according to the Chicago Tribune.

His mockery did not sit well with many people, including Graham. He voiced his concern on Facebook and took a stand for the First Lady.

"Where does comedian Jimmy Kimmel get off making fun of First Lady Melania Trump's accent? I don't get it. We all have accents. Is he going to make fun of someone from Boston? Maybe Texas? Or is it just the accents of immigrants he mocks? The woman is a successful business person and speaks five languages for Pete's sake. I think he's out of line," he wrote.

After garnering criticisms for his joke, Kimmel offered an apology on Twitter (@jimmykimmel) and referenced his ongoing feud with Fox News host, Sean Hannity. Because of Hannity's "deference to the President," Kimmel said he made a "harmless and silly" joke about the President's wife's accent.

But because people were "genuinely offended" by it, he is now saying sorry. "Mrs. Trump almost certainly has enough to worry about without being used as a prop to increase TV ratings," he said. "I am hopeful that Sean Hannity will learn from this too and continue his newly-found advocacy for women, immigrants and First Ladies and that he will triumph in his heroic battle against sexual harassment and perversion."

Netizens were pretty divided after he posted his apology. Some people wrote that Kimmel has nothing to apologize for because his joke was funny, while others failed to see his sincerity in the apology.

related articles
Franklin Graham enraged that Facebook asked users if pedophiles should be able to solicit 'sexual pictures' from children
Franklin Graham enraged that Facebook asked users if pedophiles should be able to solicit 'sexual pictures' from children

Franklin Graham enraged that Facebook asked users if pedophiles should be able to solicit 'sexual pictures' from children

Franklin Graham: Christians shouldn't vote for 'progressive' candidates

Franklin Graham: Christians shouldn't vote for 'progressive' candidates

Franklin Graham calls for Target boycott after man exposes himself to little girl in female restroom
Franklin Graham calls for Target boycott after man exposes himself to little girl in female restroom

Franklin Graham calls for Target boycott after man exposes himself to little girl in female restroom

News
Christian widows in Nigeria hold fast to faith as they rebuild lives after violence
Christian widows in Nigeria hold fast to faith as they rebuild lives after violence

Hundreds of Christian widows in Nigeria’s Plateau State are putting their lives back together after losing husbands, homes and livelihoods to violence.

8 killed in attack on church in Jordan
8 killed in attack on church in Jordan

In response to the shooting, Church leaders vowed that Christians will not be driven from their homeland.

The Christian candidate who lost the election but won my respect
The Christian candidate who lost the election but won my respect

Helen Spiby-Vann secured just 63 votes in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, but her campaign made me reconsider the value of an explicitly Christian voice in politics, writes Christian Hacking.

Can we afford the society we have created?
Can we afford the society we have created?

Is spending spiralling out of control? Should the state be doing everything we expect of it, or can we simply no longer afford the society we have created?