David Letterman has shared that he has been in contact with Jimmy Kimmel after Kimmel’s TV show was put on hold.
In a recent episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel faced backlash due to comments he made about the assassination of Charlie Kirk and his humorous take on Donald Trump’s response to Kirk’s death on Wednesday (September 10).
Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension has led to a variety of reactions. President Trump expressed satisfaction with the suspension, posting on Truth Social: “Great News for America: The ratings-challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED.”
He also praised ABC for ‘finally having the courage to do what had to be done’, and remarked that Kimmel had ‘zero talent’.
On the other hand, numerous individuals have supported Kimmel, with fellow TV hosts like Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart voicing their opposition to the suspension.
While Kimmel has not made a public statement about the issue, David Letterman has given some insight into how Kimmel is handling the situation.
The former talk show host mentioned that he had recently communicated with Kimmel after learning about the show’s suspension, speaking at the Atlantic Festival in New York City.
Letterman, who is 78, stated: “I have heard from Jimmy. [Kimmel] had been “nice enough to text … this morning.”
He also discussed Kimmel’s current state, saying that ‘he’s sitting up in bed taking nourishment’, and added: “He’s gonna be fine.”
Letterman further described the situation as ‘ridiculous’, stating: “You can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration in the Oval Office. That’s just not how this works.”
In his social media post, Trump also brought up Jimmy Fallon, who leads The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on NBC.
The President wrote: “That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!”
Fallon has commented on Kimmel’s suspension, noting that he is unsure of the details, but he knows Kimmel as a ‘decent, funny and loving guy’ and wishes for his return.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! remains suspended at the moment, but Sinclair Broadcasting Group, the network that airs the show, has indicated that the suspension could be reconsidered following ‘formal discussions with ABC regarding the network’s commitment to professionalism and accountability’.
Sinclair has also requested that Kimmel ‘issue a direct apology to the Kirk family’ and make a ‘meaningful personal donation’ to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA.