Jimmy Kimmel Says Last Year Nearly Ended His Career

Jimmy Kimmel’s past year in late-night television nearly ended his career, and now the veteran host is speaking candidly about just how close it came. 

After a firestorm sparked by controversial remarks following a political assassination, Kimmel faced threats, suspension, and intense public backlash. 

Standing on stage at the Critics’ Choice Awards with a major win, the longtime comedian reflected on the moment that pushed him to the brink and how the industry’s response ultimately pulled him back.

Kimmel described the fallout from last year’s controversy as a moment that nearly ended everything he had built. 

Speaking to reporters after winning Best Talk Show at the 31st annual Critics’ Choice Awards, Kimmel said the ordeal felt like a “near-death experience.”

“It was almost a near-death experience for me. Of course, not literally, but I did feel a little bit like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn watching their own funeral, when all this stuff happened,” he said, according to PEOPLE.

Kimmel acknowledged the overwhelming response from fans and fellow creatives, adding, “To be here and to see that people reacted to it in not just a positive way, but in almost a desperate way, we’re like, ‘Oh boy, when they come after the comedians, this is when we draw the line.’” 

According to him, the support reminded him why the moment mattered.

Jimmy Kimmel also directly addressed the controversy during his Critics’ Choice acceptance speech, thanking those who stood by him during the suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

“Thank you to all the writers and actors and producers and union members, many of you who are in this room, who supported us, who really stepped forward for us, and reminded us that we do not take free speech for granted in this city or this country,” he said.

The 56-year-old closed his speech with pointed sarcasm aimed at President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized late-night comedians. 

“Most of all, I wanna thank our president, Donald Jennifer Trump, without whom we would be going home empty-handed tonight,” Kimmel said. 

“So thank you, Mr. President, for all the many ridiculous things you do each and every day.” 

He added, “It’s been a banner couple of weeks, and we can’t wait to get back on the air tomorrow night to talk about them.”

As The Blast reported, the controversy began after Kimmel’s monologue following the September 2025 assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. 

Kirk was killed during a campus debate at Utah Valley University, and 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was later charged with the murder.

During the monologue, Kimmel accused the “MAGA gang” of desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Kirk as anything other than one of them.

He also claimed they were working very hard to capitalize on the murder, and compared Trump’s reaction to how “a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”

Following FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s warning that ABC’s license could be at risk due to the monologue, Disney temporarily took “Jimmy Kimmel Live” off the air for six days. 

Trump later suggested that networks that gave him negative coverage should have their licenses revoked, intensifying the backlash and protests.

Less than a week later, Jimmy Kimmel returned to the air and delivered an emotional monologue addressing the backlash.

“I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind, but I do want to make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human, and that is, you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” he said per The Blast.

“I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.”

He also clarified that he was not blaming a political group, saying he wasn’t trying to fault anyone for the actions of what he described as those of “a deeply disturbed individual.” 

The late night host admitted that some felt his remarks were “either ill-timed or unclear or maybe both.”