Jimmy Kimmel's transition from a politically neutral comedian to an active supporter of the Democratic party in his late-night show
In the world of late-night television, Jimmy Kimmel has been a staple for over two decades. Launched on ABC in 2003 with 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', the show has seen its fair share of success and controversy.
Fast forward to 2021, and Kimmel found himself in hot water for a joke about vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in a heart attack scenario. This wasn't the first time Kimmel stirred up controversy, as his career has been marked by several contentious moments.
One of the most notable incidents occurred in the early 2000s when Kimmel, as a co-host of Comedy Central's 'The Man Show', used blackface to impersonate celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and NBA star Karl Malone.
Over the past decade, 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' has experienced a significant decline in audience and advertisers. The show has lost 40% of its total audience, falling from an average of 2.4 million viewers in 2015 to 1.6 million in 2025. It has also seen a 72% drop in the advertiser-coveted demo ages 25-54.
In 2017, Kimmel began embracing the role as a liberal activist, a move that would lead to more political controversy. He mocked Trump voters, saying Americans who support the president have been 'repeatedly punched in the head.' In the same year, he suggested President Donald Trump was a 'racist' while hosting the Oscars.
Kimmel's political activism continued, with him using his platform to call for gun control and attack Republicans following the Las Vegas massacre in 2017. In June 2021, he emceed a Biden fundraiser where Biden appeared not to recognize George Clooney.
Controversy struck again in August 2019 when Kimmel mocked Trump voters, and in February 2024, he avoided mentioning the Robert Hur report revealing the DOJ would not prosecute Biden over his mishandling of classified documents.
Kimmel has also been criticised for peddling misinformation, such as a misleading video of then-Vice President Mike Pence, accusing him of carrying 'empty' PPE boxes at a healthcare facility in the early months of COVID.
In March 2023, Kimmel appeared to endorse the vandalizing of Tesla vehicles, and in June 2023, he participated in the 'No Kings' protests. Last year, Kimmel played a role in shielding Biden's cognitive decline, and in October 2017, he suggested the alleged assassin was part of the 'MAGA gang' despite reports of his left-wing ideology.
Perhaps the most recent and significant controversy occurred in September 2025 when Kimmel's show was indefinitely paused following his comments about the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Throughout his career, Jimmy Kimmel's controversial moments have been as consistent as his laugh-out-loud humour. As the landscape of late-night television continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these controversies will impact Kimmel's future in the industry.
Read also:
- Eighteen-Year-Old Speaks Out Against Lowering Voting Age to Sixteen
- King Charles's body language analyst dissects signs of apparent 'impatience' exhibited by Charles towards Trump
- Mohammad Yousuf publically labeled Suryakumar Yadav as a "pig," an unusual slur Yousuf explained.
- Today's most impactful photographic moments
