What To Know
- Jimmy Kimmel superimposed his face into Mitch McConnell’s latest photo from a rehab center, where he’s recovering after a fall in June.
- The Kentucky senator has received backlash for his lack of transparency about his health amid his hospitalization and recovery.
- He has released just two statements and two photos in the month and a half since the fall.
Jimmy Kimmel may be on summer break from hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live!, but he still made sure to publicly address Senator Mitch McConnell‘s latest photo update following his June hospitalization.
The late-night host posted a doctored version of the photo, superimposing his face onto the body of McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao. He captioned it, “For those asking, Mitch and I are feeling better, stronger, sexier and still technically alive every day!”
McConnell was hospitalized on June 14, and there was much backlash over the lack of transparency about his condition. On July 12, he finally shared a photo from a rehab center, along with an update and explanation.
“Surviving childhood polio meant spending my entire life with mobility challenges,” he shared at the time. “They haven’t exactly gotten easier to manage with age. And last month, I took a fall which landed me in the hospital. My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages. But I was briefly unconscious and was taken to the hospital. While receiving excellent care over the past several weeks, I’ve also had to deal with a mild case of pneumonia.”
He continued, “I can assure you that I’ve been a good patient. At my age, I tend to do what my doctors tell me to do. I’ve submitted to every test they can think of to help figure out what caused this incident. And I’m continuing to do everything they ask to speed my recovery. In fact, with signs of continued progress, I’ve been able to move from hospital care to a rehabilitation center where I’ll keep regaining my strength.”
Another update came on July 26, along with the photo that Kimmel spoofed during his break. “The Senator continues to meet with staff regarding Senate and Kentucky business, including discussions on defense appropriations, foreign policy, the farm bill, constituent services and constituent federal grant requests,” a spokesperson for McConnell explained. “As the Senator continues to improve in rehab, we will be sure to keep you updated.”
