Jimmy Kimmel accused of hypocrisy amid Oscars posturing

Jimmy Kimmel led the outrage against Hollywood sexism, but some have recalled his show, that joyfully denigrated women.

Jimmy Kimmel during his opening monologue at the Oscars. Picture: Getty

Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel is being labelled a hypocrite after leading the push against harassment, as his previous comments and behaviour on “The Man Show” were given a new airing.

The 50-year-old led an attack on sexism in Hollywood, and Harvey Weinstein, during his opening to the Academy Awards and several times during the show.

At one point during the ceremony he said: “we can’t let bad behaviour slide any more.

“What happened with Harvey (Weinstein) and what’s happening all over was long overdue. The world is watching us. We need to set an example.”

“And the truth is, if we are successful here, if we can work together to stop sexual harassment in the workplace, if we can do that, women will only have to deal with harassment all the time at every other place they go.”

But some viewers cast back to his four years as host of The Man Show, which ran from 1999 and made a virtue of exploiting women and putting them in uncomfortable situations.

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This didn't age too well. #Loseyourjobin5words @jimmykimmel sexually harasses Hall of Fame Pro Billiard Player Jeannette Lee on The Man Show

I wonder how she feels about this #MeToo movement?#ThingsIDontRegret Chop'n this video up. #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/4hksgdNJaa

— Talk To Me Goose (@theCarlosMiller) March 5, 2018

Jimmy Kimmel 👉🏻 AKA #JimmyWeinstein

The Man Show Juggies👈🏻 Remember? #MeToo pic.twitter.com/PaCulLLNQ8

— Dave Dunn (@DaveDunndee) March 5, 2018

Can someone please remind @jimmykimmel that he started his career on "The Man Show" that ended each show with exactly what he is preaching against #hypocrite

— Quackenbush (@always_on_Q) March 5, 2018

Seriously jimmy kimmel is talking about sexual harrasment? I recall my first exposure to his "man show" and girls jumping on trampolines..... he's a hypocrite

— Dawn Butterfield (@DButterfieldRPh) March 5, 2018

It regularly featured bikini-clad women jumping on trampolines. One segment had Kimmel approaching women on the street and asking them to guess what he had in his pants.

“I’ve stuffed something in my pants, and you’re allowed to feel around on the outside of the pants. You’ll have 10 seconds to then guess what is in my pants,” Kimmel says to one women in the sketch. “You should use two hands.”

Hosts Adam Carolla and Jimmy Kimmel with the ‘Juggy Dancers’ on The Man Show.

Kimmel was a radio host when he started The Man Show with fellow comedian Adam Carolla.

He shot to national fame on the back of the irreverent show, and in 2003 became host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on US network ABC.

Since then he has morphed into a mainstream act, in the process shedding his man-boy persona in favour of a more socially responsible, morally virtuous figure.

When asked by Vulture last year about the show, Kimmel said: “I look back at every show I’ve ever done and cringe.”

“But yes, of course, and not necessarily for the reasons you think. I just think, ‘Oh, we could’ve done that better’ … We did a lot of funny stuff. We also did a lot of stupid stuff.”

Kimmel contended that his past behaviour gave him “more credibility”.

“To hear someone like me talk about equal rights for homosexual people hits harder than when people hear Ellen Degeneres talk about it. To hear the guy from The Man Show talk about that in an inclusive way — I have some credibility.”