“This has been a strange year. It’s been a hard year,” Kimmel said at the start of his closing monologue. “We’ve had some lows, we’ve had some highs. For me, maybe more than any year of my life. I’m crying already, I’m sorry.”
Clearly emotional, the late-night host expressed deep gratitude to his audience, saying their support helped him and his team survive an especially difficult period. “This year, you literally pulled us out of a hole, and we cannot thank you enough personally,” he said.
One of the lowest points of Kimmel’s year came when ABC temporarily pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air. The move followed complaints from two major TV station owners, Nexstar and Sinclair, over a monologue in which Kimmel discussed Charlie Kirk’s alleged shooter. The suspension sparked widespread debate and backlash, with many fans rallying behind the comedian.
Kimmel also reflected on the broader mood of the country in 2025, noting that the year was marked by “many awful and destructive acts” across the United States. Without naming specific events, he said comedy shows like his help people feel less alone during chaotic times.
“When I hear from people who tell me that they watch our show, and the shows that my friends and colleagues do on the other channels, and that it makes them feel less crazy, it makes me feel less crazy too,” Kimmel said.
He added that it was important for people outside the U.S. to know that many Americans are deeply troubled by what is happening in the country. “There is still much more good in this country than bad,” he said, asking the world to “bear with us during this extended psychotic episode that we’re in the middle of.”
Earlier this month, Kimmel secured a new deal with Disney that will keep Jimmy Kimmel Live! on the air through 2027. His previous contract was believed to expire in 2026.
Since returning after his suspension, Kimmel has shown no signs of softening his criticism of Donald Trump. He recently condemned Trump’s response to the murder of filmmaker Rob Reiner, after Trump referred to Reiner as “deranged” and suggested his death was linked to anger caused by his anti-Trump views.
“What we need at a time like this… is compassion and leadership,” Kimmel said on air. “We did not get that from our president, because he has none of it to give.”
As he closed out the year, Kimmel’s message was clear: despite the controversies, personal strain, and national turmoil, the support of his audience has kept him going—and he isn’t stepping away anytime soon.
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