It’s been two months since the two-time Oscar-winning star Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found dead in their Santa Fe mansion. By the time they were discovered on February 26, they had each been deceased for quite some time, and their remains were mummified.
Now, the former Saturday Night Live! comedian John Mulaney has come under fire for making a joke about Hackman’s death that some find to be “sickening.”
Mulaney Jokes About Hackman’s Death
On Wednesday’s episode of his Netflix show Everybody’s Live With John Mulaney, the comedian joked about the weeks-long investigation into Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths.
“Scientists are now like, ‘We believe dinosaurs were killed 66 million years ago by an asteroid,’” began Mulaney, 42.
“Stop. You don’t know that,” he continued. “We don’t even know how Gene Hackman and his wife died, and we found their whole bodies with full clothes on, one week after the event.”
Not stopping there, Hackman proceeded to mock the Santa Fe police officers who have been leading the investigation.
“How about that Santa Fe police? ‘Uh, hello. Press conference No. 470. We now believe that a rat bit Mrs. Hackman, turning her hands into mummy hands.’ Just slow down. You don’t know what happened,” Mulaney added.
Unfortunately for Mulaney, however, this is now blowing up in his face. Indeed, social media users have taken to the site Reddit to slam him for making this joke.
“Just me thinking the Gene Hackman bit was just a tad sickening,” one person commented.
Others, however, defended Mulaney.
“Only John could get away with a Gene Hackman joke this soon,” one fan wrote.
Find out more about Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths in the video below. Does this really sound like something that should be joked about?
Related: Gene Hackman, 95, Was ‘Murdered,’ Hollywood Legend Randy Quaid Alleges
Hackman And Arakawa Found Dead
The world was stunned when the bodies of Arakawa and Hackman were found on February 26. One of their three dogs was found dead with them, as the canine was discovered locked in a crate near Arakawa’s body. Their remains were mummified, which immediately indicated that they had all been dead for quite some time.
It was later revealed that Arakawa died of Hantavirus, a rare flu-like virus often transmitted through rodent droppings. She likely passed away on February 12, which was when she made her last phone call.
Hackman was then in the mansion alone with her body for several days before succumbing to heart failure. Officials believe that he died on February 18, according to data from his pacemaker. After his death, it was revealed that Hackman was suffering from advance Alzheimer’s at the time of his passing. This means that he may not have been aware that his wife had died in their home days before his own death.
The Santa Fe Police Department has since released body camera footage showing officers entering the Hackman mansion and finding the bodies. Check out a portion of that footage below.
Related: Gene Hackman Death Mystery Escalates As His Family Blocks Autopsy Release – ‘Highly Unusual’
Hackman’s $80 Million Fortune
Hackman and Arakawa had been married since 1991. Though they had no children together, he was the father of three from a previous marriage.
Hackman left behind an $80 million fortune. His will, which he made in 1995, listed Arakawa as his sole inheritor.
Meanwhile, her will specifically stated that if she and Hackman were to die within 90 days of one another, their $80 million fortune should be donated to charity. It is believed that a legal battle is about to ensue that will see Hackman’s children try to get their hands on the money.
One can argue that comedians should never be taken too seriously when it comes to their jokes. However, it also seems a little soon to be joking about the unspeakable tragedy that is the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa. In the end, Mulaney and his fellow comedians might want to let a little time go by before joking about this in the future.
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