Jimmy Kimmel recently stepped out for the first time since his late-night show got sidelined. The popular host was spotted driving in Los Angeles on Thursday, September 18. Kimmel, who is 57, seemed to be in good spirits. He flashed a smile while navigating a parking lot. He wore black sunglasses and an all-black casual outfit for his public appearance.
Kimmel’s outing came just one day after entertainment reports confirmed ABC "indefinitely pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live!" off the air. The decision followed comments Kimmel made during his monologue on Monday, September 15. Those comments touched on the death of Charlie Kirk. Kirk, 31, died on September 10. He had been shot during a conference on a university campus in Utah.
During his Monday monologue, Kimmel didn’t hold back. He said, "The MAGA gang desperately tries to present this guy who murdered Charlie Kirk as something other than one of them. They do everything they can to make political capital out of it." He added, "Among the accusations, there was grief." Kimmel then showed a video clip of former President Donald Trump. Trump, 79, was reportedly close with Kirk, a co-founder of Turning Point USA. A reporter asked Trump how he felt about Kirk’s death. "I think very well," Trump replied. He then quickly changed the subject to a new ballroom being built at the White House.
Kimmel found humor in Trump’s response. He joked that Trump was in "the fourth stage of grief: construction." The host added, "That’s not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. That’s how a 4-year-old laments the death of his goldfish. OK?"
President Trump has often criticized Kimmel and other late-night hosts. He took to social media to share his thoughts on ABC’s decision. "Good news for America: Jimmy Kimmel’s show, which is suffering from ratings problems, has been CANCELED," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what needed to be done. Kimmel is untalented and has worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy [Fallon] and Seth [Meyers], two complete losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it, NBC! President DJT."
While Trump celebrated online, other celebrities quickly voiced their support for Kimmel. Actor Ben Stiller commented, "This is not right," alongside an article he shared on X. Comedian Wanda Sykes wrote, "Hey, for those who pray, now is the time to do it. I love you, Jimmy." Stephen Colbert, whose own late-night show was canceled earlier this year despite earning several Emmy awards, also reportedly stood up for Kimmel and his team. According to People magazine, Colbert spoke out during his show on Thursday, September 18. "This is flagrant censorship," Colbert said. "You can’t give an autocrat an inch. Jimmy, I’m with you and your team 100 percent."
Jimmy Kimmel PG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images