After the Nelson Mandela sign language interpreter, Thamsanqa Jantjie, reportedly made "gibberish" gestures at the memorial held in South Africa on Tuesday, Jimmy Kimmel brought out his own interpreter to tell his viewers exactly what was said on stage.
Jantjie, 34, who quickly caught the world's attention, told the Johannesburg's Star newspaper he was suffering an episode during the event, even though he took his medication prior to the memorial, according to Reuters.
"Jimmy Kimmel Live's" interpreter Justi Mauer, who has signed for some of the shows concerts in the past, watched the clips of the memorial on stage and told the audience what was being said.
While Mandela's great-granddaughter Phumla Mandela spoke, the Jantjie was signing: "I support basic salutations here salutations. Inside joining in this week's cigarette inside to prove and on and on. To support, I would please to say from me to you. Talking to you so far."
In another part of the memorial he signs: "Hello. Welcome so far. Well cigarette join bringing in different to you. Circle. And I would like to pray this offering. Basically this is fun, all of these balls to prove this is good. I'm sorry."
"In your opinion, does this guy know sign language at all?" Kimmel asked Mauer.
"No, not at all," Mauer replied.
The interpreter called himself a "champion" signer, but said he began to hear voices while on stage and suffered hallucinations while trying to interpret the speeches being give, Reuters reported. Deaf people watched outraged from around the world as Jantjie continued to sign gestures which made no sense.
"There was nothing I could do. I was alone in a very dangerous situation," he told the Star. "I tried to control myself and not show the world what was going on. I am very sorry. It's the situation I found myself in."
According to a Secret Service spokesman, the host of an event like this one is responsible for organizing such tasks, and an agreement is entered by both sides for all involved to be properly checked for any appropriately needed background and medical checks, Reuters reported.
"For the purposes of this memorial service, this would include vetting them for criminal history and other appropriate records checks," spokesman Brian Leary told Reuters. The South African government has since said Jantjie is not a professional interpreter.
"He was procured. He did not just rock up," Deputy Disabilities Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu told a news conference. "Did a mistake happen? Yes. He became overwhelmed. He did not use the normal signs. We accept all that," Reuters reported.
Jantjie was quickly called out by South Africa's leading deaf association as a fake, but he's interpreted for two major African National Congress events last year, Reuters reported. Footage from these events show him sitting next to current President Jacob Zuma, who said he and his party have no idea who he is.
Jantjie spoke to Reuters and said he did not know why everyone was upset this time and at any other previous events, adding "I'm not a failure. I deliver," according to Reuters.
Jantjie said he worked for a company called SA Interpreters and was hired by the ANC party for Tuesdays memorial, but after being put under intense scrutiny, experts say not even basic signs like "thank you" or "Mandela" were properly signed, Reuters reported.
Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, South African deputy minister of women, children and people with disabilities, said they have tried to track down the company, which according to her have provided substandard services for many years, until Tuesday when they "vanished," Slate reported.
"They've vanished, we've managed to get ahold of them and then we spoke to them wanting some answers and they vanished into thin air," she said. "It looks like they have been cheating all along."
