A look back at Jimmy Kimmel’s controversies as show is shockingly pulled over MAGA Remarks
From blackface to Oscars missteps, the comedian has faced criticism before, but criticising Trump was clearly a bridge too far
Jimmy Kimmel has landed in hot water for his comments over the years(Image: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Jimmy Kimmel has been yanked from the airwaves after incurring the wrath of the Trump administration with his remarks about their response to the murder of rightwing activist Charlie Kirk.
The late-night television personality claimed right-wing factions were attempting to “score political points” from Kirk’s death and branded them the “MAGA gang.”
During his opening segment on Monday evening, Kimmel insinuated that Tyler Robinson – who faces charges for fatally shooting Kirk on September 10 while the activist delivered a speech at Utah Valley University – was connected to Trump’s Make America Great Again movement. The news comes as Trump’s carriage ride with King Charles was mocked as resembling a British comedy.
“The MAGA Gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel declared. “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving,” he continued.
(Image: PATRICK T. FALLON, AFP via Getty Images)
Robinson remains behind bars for Kirk’s slaying after voluntarily turning himself in, reports the Mirror US.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr, appointed by President Trump, publicly condemned Kimmel’s remarks as “offensive and inappropriate,” threatening regulatory action against ABC and its parent company, Disney. Carr also encouraged local affiliates to stop airing the show.
Following this pressure, Nexstar Media Group, which operates numerous ABC affiliates, announced it would pull the show from its stations, labeling Kimmel’s comments as offensive. President Trump himself praised ABC’s decision, calling for the firing of other late-night hosts critical of him. This coordinated response underscores how the suspension was driven by political influence rather than public outrage.
Kimmel is no stranger to controversy. And yet, for all of Kimmel’s on-air missteps over the years, none of them ever threatened his job.
Here’s a a look back at some of the late-night host’s most notorious controversies , the incidents that provoked headlines, angered audiences, and yet never cost him a single broadcast.
Blackface and racial skits
In 2020, resurfaced clips from The Man Show showed Kimmel performing in blackface while impersonating NBA player Karl Malone, Oprah Winfrey, and other celebrities. He also used racial epithets on a Christmas album track while imitating Snoop Dogg. Despite public backlash and calls for his firing, ABC did not sever ties with Kimmel. Instead, he issued a public apology, acknowledging the offensive nature of his past actions and expressing regret. ABC supported his apology, and Kimmel continued to host Jimmy Kimmel Live! without interruption.
Oscars missteps:
Hosting the 2023 Academy Awards, Kimmel’s attempts at humor fell flat, notably when he questioned Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai about whether she thought Harry Styles had spit on Chris Pine. Viewers criticized the exchange as disrespectful and tone-deaf, but it did not imperil his program.
Gun-control monologues
Following the Las Vegas mass shooting in 2017, Kimmel delivered an impassioned segment criticizing U.S. gun laws. While controversial, particularly among conservative audiences, this did not trigger any network sanctions.
Fabricated stunts
In 2013, a staged video titled Worst Twerk Fail Ever appeared to show a woman accidentally setting herself on fire. Kimmel later disclosed the footage was orchestrated by the show. Although some viewers found the stunt distasteful, it caused no professional repercussions.
These episodes underscore that Kimmel has often courted outrage, but the network tolerated them because they fell under the broad umbrella of late-night provocation. Wednesday’s suspension, in contrast, is different and a worrying new development in the very public feuds of Donald Trump and his critics.
