Kimmel’s win came months after ABC briefly pulled his late-night show off the air following complaints from two major station owners, Nexstar and Sinclair, over a controversial monologue. The move sparked widespread backlash from writers, actors, producers, and union members, many of whom publicly defended Kimmel and the principle of free expression.
“Thanks to all the writers and actors and producers and union members… who stepped forward and reminded us that we do not take free speech for granted in this city or in this country,” Kimmel said onstage. “Your actions were important, and we appreciate them.”
He then turned his attention to Trump with a trademark punchline, mockingly thanking the president for providing endless material. “And most of all, I want to thank our president, Donald Jennifer Trump,” Kimmel joked. “Without whom, we would be going home empty-handed tonight.”
Kimmel also revealed his excitement about returning to work, saying the past few weeks had been “a banner couple of weeks” and that he couldn’t wait to get back on the air.
Last month, Kimmel struck a new deal with Disney to extend his late-night run by another year, keeping Jimmy Kimmel Live on the air through 2027. The host has long been one of Trump’s most vocal late-night critics, frequently skewering the president during his monologues.
Recently, Kimmel condemned Trump’s response to the murder of filmmaker Rob Reiner, after the president labeled Reiner “deranged” and speculated that his death was caused by anger linked to his anti-Trump views. Kimmel called the remarks “hateful and vile,” adding that they showed a lack of compassion and leadership.
Kimmel also addressed the controversy in a special Christmas Day appearance on the U.K.’s Channel 4, where he recalled how “millions and millions of people stood up” when his show was taken off the air.
“People who never watched my show, people who said they hated my show, spoke out,” he said. “Because so many people spoke out, we came back. Our show came back stronger than ever.”
With his Critics Choice win and a renewed contract in hand, Kimmel made it clear he has no plans to soften his approach. As he put it himself, he’s back on the air every night, ready to keep giving “the most powerful politician on earth a right and richly deserved bollocking.”
Tags:
News
