Jay Johnson, the longtime Bob’s Burgers voice actor who plays Jimmy Pesto, has been banned from the show following his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, according to The Daily Beast.
While Johnson has never confirmed his involvement in the event that led to five deaths and 138 police officers being injured among many others, some colleagues have claimed to have spotted him in photos. Fox denied the publication’s request to comment, as did Disney, but two people close to the situation reportedly claimed “top staff” at the show are not allowing the actor to be part of the production, effectively banning him.
In March, the FBI tweeted a photo of a man who many believed looked like the actor, in an effort to find “information on people who took part in the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6.”
“I know him. We all do. Folks from LA comedy scene, that is,” Kathy Griffin wrote in response to tweets by those trying to figure out the identity. “That’s Jay Johnston. He’s a well known comedic actor. I haven’t seen him in many years, but knew him back in the day. Since the late 90s. Mutuals say he’s “on the lamb” now. I can’t believe I’m writing these words.”
Johnson has also been a part of Mr. Show, Arrested Development, The Sarah Silverman Program, High School USA!, Reno 911!, Parks and Recreation, Community, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and several other projects. His character of Pesto has appeared in 43 episodes of popular cartoon series, but has not appeared in the latest 12th season.
