Jimmy Kimmel Mocks Melania Trump, Bashes CBS for Canceling Stephen Colbert Show
Late night host Jimmy Kimmel showed up at the Oscars on Sunday night where he criticized CBS for canceling Stephen Colbert’s show during the Paramount-Skydance merger.
Jimmy Kimmel took his subtle swipe at CBS by presenting the best documentary.
“We hear a lot about courage on shows like this, but telling a story that could cost you your life is real courage. As you know, there are some countries whose leaders don’t support free speech. I’m not at liberty to say which one. Let’s leave it to North Korea and CBS,” he said.
Last year, CBS announced the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show, calling it a “financial decision.”
“We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire ‘The Late Show’ franchise in May 2026,” executives said in a statement. “We are proud that Stephen has called CBS home. He and the show will be remembered in the pantheon of greats who have graced late night television. This is a purely financial decision in a difficult late-night environment. This has nothing to do with the show’s performance, its content, or other matters taking place at Paramount.
The end came just days after Stephen Colbert denounced his parent company’s $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump, calling it a “big bribe” for the Skydance merger. Critics of the cancellation claimed it was political retaliation.
Kimmel also starred in Melania Trump’s documentary during her Oscar presentation.
“Luckily for all of us, there is an international community of filmmakers who are dedicated to telling the truth, often taking great risks to make films that teach us, that speak out against injustice, that inspire us to take action, and there are also documentaries where you walk around the White House trying on shoes,” he said.
“Oh, man, is he going to be mad that his wife wasn’t nominated for this,” Kimmel later added.
In September last year, Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel after he appeared to suggest that conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killer was associated with MAGA despite evidence that he was influenced by left-wing ideologies. The suspension was prompted, in part, by the refusal of broadcast affiliates Nexstar and Sinclair to carry the show in their respective markets.
Nexstar said Kimmel’s comments were “offensive and insensitive at a critical moment in our national political discourse,” adding that he wanted to “move toward resuming respectful and constructive dialogue.”
Kimmel returned after a brief suspension, claiming his comments were misinterpreted.
“I never intended to take the murder of a young man lightly.”
“I don’t think there’s anything funny about it,” Kimmel continued in his monologue. “I posted a message on Instagram the day he was killed, sending his family love and asking for compassion, and I meant it. I still do.”
