Footage of Rush Limbaugh making fun of Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's disease resurfaced following the radio personality's recent death.
In 2006, the Back to the Future actor had appeared in a 30-second ad for former Democratic U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill and her support of stem cell research. While commenting on the ad, Limbaugh stirred controversy by accusing Fox of exaggerating his symptoms and imitating the tremors often associated with Parkinson's disease.
"In this commercial, he is exaggerating the effects of the disease," Limbaugh said. "He is moving all around and shaking and it's purely an act. This is the only time I've ever seen Michael J. Fox portray any of the symptoms of the disease he has. He can control himself to keep himself in the frame of the picture. And he can control himself enough to keep his eyes right on the lens, the teleprompter. But his head and shoulders are moving all over the place. This is really shameless, folks. This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn’t take his medication or he's acting."
Limbaugh initially apologized but later claimed he never made fun of the actor before accusing "drive-by" media of exaggerating the segment. He also renewed his attacks on Michael J. Fox, accusing the actor of "allowing his illness to be exploited."
Rush Limbaugh died of lung cancer on Wednesday at age 70.
