The backlash surrounding Jimmy Kimmel isn’t letting up as multiple government officials called for his job on Monday. But now one of Hollywood’s biggest names is stepping in to defend the late-night television host.
In the wake of a gunman storming the White House Correspondents' Dinner with the intent of assassinating President Donald Trump, Kimmel's joke from days earlier made headlines. The comedian held a mock WHCD roast and included a line that referred to First Lady Melania Trump as an "expectant widow."
The joke was about President Trump's age and health, but another attempt on the president's life led to criticism that Kimmel fanned the flames of political violence. First Lady Melania Trump, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and President Trump were among those who spoke out and urged ABC to fire Kimmel.
Now, George Clooney is coming to Kimmel's defense and suggesting a little perspective be added to the discourse. “Jimmy’s a comedian, and I would argue that Karoline Leavitt didn’t mean shots should be fired,” Clooney said Monday night at the Chaplin Award Gala, where he was honored for his contributions to cinema. “She was making a joke. Fair enough. You look at that side and go, ‘Well, jokes are jokes.’ But the rhetoric is a little dangerous. And we’ve seen it a lot lately.”
Clooney referenced comments made by Leavitt before the WHCD, telling Fox News on the red carpet ahead of the dinner that “there will be some shots fired tonight in the room. The remark was correctly interpreted as referring to the comedic jabs traditionally delivered during the event. But her comments did not set off the firestorm ignited by Kimmel's resurfaced punchline.
Clooney went on to suggest that the broader political climate is part of the problem, not just any single punchline. “When one side is calling anyone they disagree with traitors to the country, which is a charge that’s punishable by death, just because they don’t agree with someone, I think the rhetoric is a little too heated," he said.
Clooney’s defense of Kimmel is hardly surprising given their long-standing relationship. The Oscar-winning actor was the very first guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! when it premiered in 2003, helping launch what would become one of late-night’s most enduring franchises. The two have remained friendly ever since.
Beyond personal ties, Clooney has also been outspoken politically for years, frequently aligning himself with viewpoints more commonly associated with Kimmel than with President Donald Trump and his supporters. Both men have used their platforms to criticize the president's political rhetoric and policies, catching insults from Trump in the process.
A number of high-profile celebrities defended Kimmel when ABC suspended him for comments about Charlie Kirk. Clooney likely won't be the only one to speak up in defense of the late-night host as this latest controversy continues to have legs.
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