Jeremy Clarkson Pays Tribute To Journalist PJ O’Rourke After Cancer Battle: “I’m Very Saddened”
The Grand Tour presenter Jeremy Clarkson has paid tribute to journalist PJ O’Rourke after he died at the age of 74.
Described as a “conservative writer and humorist PJ O’Rourke, whose acerbic wit and writings often won admiration on both sides of America’s political divide,” by The Guardian, O’Rourke died of cancer according to Jake Tapper, who said the following, quoting what O’Rourke’s publisher had told him:
“Our dear friend and cherished Grove Atlantic author P.J O’Rourke passed away this morning from complications of lung cancer.”
I don’t normally tweet about people I barely know who’ve died. But I’m very saddened to hear that PJ O’Rourke is no more. He was the best journalist ever. And the funniest.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) February 16, 2022
Now, Jeremy has added his condolences to the mix, saying:
“I don’t normally tweet about people I barely know who’ve died. But I’m very saddened to hear that PJ O’Rourke is no more. He was the best journalist ever. And the funniest.”
Phil O’Rourke, PJ’s son, responded to Jeremy’s post thanking him for his words:
“Thanks, my dad was a top guy,” he wrote.
Jeremy added to his tweet a couple of hours later, saying that they “had dinner once and he was tremendously funny.”
A number of other journalists also gave their respects to the journalist.
“PJ was special. When he came by the office, the fun and wit went up a notch, sparks were in the air, and we all felt a certain joie de vivre. I cherish the memories,” wrote writer Bill Kristol who worked alongside PJ on the Weekly Standard.
PJ O’Rourke was one of the nicest writers I ever had the pleasure of meeting and drinking and (very rarely) corresponding with. No reason whatsoever for him to be decent to some junior editor at one of the many outlets he wrote for, and yet. What a loss.
— Sonny Bunch (@SonnyBunch) February 15, 2022
“PJ O’Rourke was one of the nicest writers I ever had the pleasure of meeting and drinking and (very rarely) corresponding with. No reason whatsoever for him to be decent to some junior editor at one of the many outlets he wrote for, and yet. What a loss,” said the culture editor at the Bulwark, Sunny Bunch.