King of the Hill Creators Slammed for Tepid Jonathan Joss Salute
Another round of tone-deaf corporate eulogy, huh? When news broke that Jonathan Joss—the veteran voice behind John Redcorn on King of the Hill—was tragically murdered in June, fans braced for heartfelt words from the show’s creators. Instead, they got what critics are calling a “pathetic” two-liner that read more like a press release than a genuine memorial. On X (formerly Twitter), co-creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels posted a brief statement: “We are deeply saddened by Jonathan Joss’s passing and send our love to his family.” No anecdotes, no mention of his 17-year run as our favorite indigenous father figure, and certainly no hint of the man behind the mic.
Social media immediately pounced. One user on Threads scolded, “That’s it? No memories? No donation link? No mention of his activism?” Another fan on Reddit’s r/KingoftheHill called the post “corporate tokenism at its finest.” Even The Hollywood Reporter noted that, compared to other tributes (see People’s multi-paragraph homage to Joss’s long career), this felt like a bullet-point update. Variety chimed in to remind studios: “When a voice actor who defined a character for nearly two decades is taken, you owe more than boilerplate condolences.”
Let’s not forget who Jonathan Joss was. Beyond John Redcorn, he voiced Storm Shadow in G.I. Joe: Resolute and popped up in films like The Postman and various theatrical productions. He championed Native American representation in Hollywood, lectured at universities, and co-founded a theater troupe to nurture indigenous talent. Those details? Absent from Judge and Daniels’s statement.
Sure, high-profile creatives are swamped. But a “we’re devastated” tweet won’t cut it when you’ve spent years scripting someone’s daily life. Fans aren’t asking for a 3,000-word tribute—just a shred of personality. A photo from set. A single Redcorn story. A promise to fundraise for Joss’s family. Anything but radio silence masquerading as empathy.
And yes, we all know empty words are cheaper than real action. If you’re going to pause production on an animated concert backstage, at least throw a bone to the family of the guy who made your show worth watching. But hey, why let genuine grief get in the way of business as usual?
So there you have it—a half-hearted eulogy from King of the Hill’s architects that left viewers feeling short-changed. Nothing shocking here, folks. Let’s all act surprised.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, People Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
