Sometimes, being a late-night TV show host means making yourself the punchline or embarrassing yourself for the sake of a bit. But for Jimmy Kimmel, there is one habit he does on air that he wishes he could stop and save himself some embarrassment.
Whether its letting then-girlfriend Sarah Silverman make a viral video about cheating or losing a basketball game to Ted Cruz, Jimmy Kimmel has had his fair share of moments that didn't paint him int he best light. Yet he's taken it all in stride and (mostly) done it with a smile on his face.
However, Kimmel is also known to let his emotions overwhelm him while discussing certain stories in his monologue. The comedian's habit of crying on air isn't something he's particuarly proud of.
"I just have a hard time keeping my emotions within," Kimmel told Rolling Stone. "My father is like that. And honestly, it’s embarrassing to me."
Some would argue that it's a good thing Kimmel is so open with his emotions and doesn't try to hold things back. The ABC personality doesn't exactly see it that way, saying "if I could turn it off, I would."
What has made Jimmy Kimmel cry on air?
"Jimmy Kimmel crying" is a fairly common search term on YouTube. The comedian has let the tears flow on camera more than any other late-night host, which often leads to insults from his critics.
But there have been times when tears are more than understandable. Perhaps the best example was when Kimmel recounted the harrowing health emergency his son endured right after birth.
Mass shootings and the 2024 election have also brought Kimmel to tears. He tried to explain the reactions to Rolling Stone:
"I try to attach these events to real people, and that’s what I did after the election, and I just know how much misery is in store for so many people and how unnecessary it is. I mean, we had plenty of problems before [Trump]. The idea that we’ve now created a whole new set of problems seems so counterproductive, and it’s just disheartening. It overwhelms me, just thinking about the realities; it can hit me pretty hard."Jimmy Kimmel
Kimmel's critics are usually eager to soak in his tears and laugh at the comedian crying on his late-night TV show. But the comedian made it clear it's coming from a place of empathy and compassion -- two things that don't always go hand-in-hand with comedy.
Embarrassing as it may be for Kimmel, it doesn't sound like he has any real control over crying. And it also doesn't sound like the triggers for his emotional responses are going away, either.