Fans of “King of the Hill” are expressing dissatisfaction over how the show’s creators honored Jonathan Joss following his tragic murder.
Joss, who lent his voice to John Redcorn in the Fox animated series, was fatally shot outside his home in San Antonio, Texas on June 1st.
In a tribute posted on Instagram a few days later, creators Mike Judge, Greg Daniels, and Saladin Patterson mentioned Joss, reflecting on his contribution to the show for many seasons, including its upcoming revival.
“Live in peace, Jonathan Joss,” they wrote alongside images of him and his character. “His voice will definitely be missed on ‘King of the Hill.'”
But the tribute received backlash from fans, who called it “pathetic.” Many pointed out that just two days prior to his death, Joss was reportedly removed from a “King of the Hill” panel at the ATX TV Festival in Austin, Texas.
One disgruntled fan questioned, “Would you care now? He reached out for help, and you pushed him away.”
Another chimed in with concern, “I love the show, but it’s disappointing he wasn’t invited to the panel.”
A third commenter felt strongly, stating, “It’s really unfortunate that this happened right when he was about to share his story.”
Further criticism emerged, as another fan pointed out, “There’s no backbone here. This was a hate crime—can you even show support for your own?”
The incident during the panel occurred when Joss tried to speak about a past tragedy, revealing that his home had been burned down three months earlier, which he believed was deliberately done due to his sexuality.
He was reportedly escorted away shortly after the microphone incident, and sadly, he was shot two days later.
Joss’ neighbor, Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, faces charges for the shooting, including first-degree felony murder. Although he initially pleaded guilty, he was released on $20 million bail.
Joss’ husband, Tristan Caen de Gonzalez, claims the murder was a hate crime. Initially dismissed by investigators, they later acknowledged it was “premature” to rule that out.
Neighbors reported that Joss had been involved in a long-standing conflict with Alvarez, which culminated in the tragic incident. One neighbor mentioned, “This feud has been going on for years,” highlighting past confrontations and gunfire as part of the chaotic atmosphere on the street.
“We just want to feel safe in our own homes,” the neighbor added, noting disturbances and threats that have plagued the community.
