John Mulaney Comments on Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa Death Investigation

Comedian John Mulaney sparked controversy with a darkly humorous monologue about the mysterious deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, during his Netflix talk show. Mulaney joked about the uncertainty surrounding the investigation, comparing it to scientific debates over the extinction of dinosaurs, and poked fun at the Santa Fe police's multiple press conferences and evolving theories. Official investigations found that Arakawa died first from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a rare rodent-borne illness, and Hackman died about a week later from cardiovascular disease with Alzheimer's as a contributing factor. The couple's bodies were discovered in their rodent-infested Santa Fe home, which authorities described as cluttered and unhygienic, and one of their dogs also died from starvation. Public response to Mulaney's jokes was mixed, with some criticizing the timing as insensitive while others defended his comedic approach. The case highlighted both the unusual circumstances of the couple's deaths and the public fascination with high-profile investigations.