Fact Check: Did Kurt Russell say he has no idea who Jelly Roll is amid ‘Trump joke’ row?

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Amid the controversy following rapper Jelly Roll’s joke targeting President Donald Trump, an online post claimed that actor Kurt Russell said that he has no idea who Jelly Roll is when asked about the ‘Trump joke.’ The claim has sparked mockery and speculation, calling for a fact-check.

Claim: Kurt Russell says he doesn't know who Jelly Roll is

According to a viral post that appeared on X, Russell clarified that he had no idea who “Jelly Roll” was or why he should care. 

The post read that the actor couldn’t help but laugh when reporters started asking how he felt about the Jelly Roll controversy.

“The first time someone asked me,” Russell allegedly said, “I was genuinely confused. Like…why is there a controversy about pastries?” 

“My answer is, the guy went woke and lost what sounded like a great career. I don’t care who you are. That’s just dumb.” 

The post has garnered tens of thousands of views as of this writing, drawing mixed reactions from fans and netizens.

While many believe the claim is true, a few others remain skeptical and question the claim’s authenticity.

Fact Check: Kurt Russell made no such remark

However, the claim is false, as there are no records of ‘The Thing’ actor stating that he doesn't know Jelly Roll when asked about the Trump joke.

There are no recent press reports or interviews in which the actor was asked for his comments on the controversy.

If Russell had really made such a statement, prominent news and entertainment media outlets would have widely covered it, making headlines, given the sensationalism of the controversy. But a search on Google for the claim yielded no credible news media reports.

Moreover, the account that posted the claim is not credible and, though not explicitly a parody account, it has posted several such fake and unverified claims for the sake of engagement.

Jelly Roll's controversial joke against Donald Trump

The claim surfaced as the 41-year-old rapper is facing criticism from fans after joking about Trump while guest-hosting 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'   

“Mr. President, from one fat pig to another, take it from me that physical fitness is very important,” he said while describing his own weight loss. 

“We can debate whether this president is mentally fit, but I think we can all agree he is certainly not physically fit,” he added.