Jay Leno Stands With Jimmy Kimmel Championing Free Speech Despite Their Past
Jay Leno is showing solidarity with Jimmy Kimmel, notwithstanding their contentious history.
During an interview with journalists following Chris Wallace's Hollywood Walk of Fame induction on Thursday, September 18, the 75-year-old Leno commented on ABC's decision to temporarily remove Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its schedule earlier in the week.
"I support Jimmy Kimmel regarding this situation," the erstwhile Tonight Show presenter stated emphatically, further noting that he could envision such a suspension occurring during his own tenure in late-night television. (Leno presided over The Tonight Show between 1992 and 2009, and again from 2010 to 2014.)
"Incidents like these are quite common," he remarked.
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On Thursday, Leno informed reporters that Kimmel's suspension highlights his candor: "One isn't usually taken off air for voicing popular opinions. More often, it's the truth that leads to being canceled, so we shall observe the outcome."
Leno also expressed that individuals who don't concur with late-night comedians are not obliged to watch their shows.
“It's a comic speaking. Should you find it disagreeable, simply don't tune in," he proceeded. "That is how the market functions. Allow the audience to make their choice. If a program resonates with viewers, it continues to be broadcast. I mean, it's really that straightforward."
Leno further stated, "I find Jimmy entertaining. I appreciate all the hosts. I believe they possess significant talent. I enjoy humor. That's my reason for watching them. I anticipate Jimmy will recover swiftly. He's a skilled individual. He's humorous. And we'll see what unfolds. Perhaps he could be back on screen in merely a few weeks. So, we shall observe."
Leno wrapped up his comments by asserting his support for "freedom of expression."
“Patrick Henry articulated it perfectly: ‘Give me liberty or give me death.’ That represented the initial iteration of this discussion. It has persisted for two centuries, and within a free society, it will continue for another two,” he stated. “Everything will be fine. There's no need for concern."
An ABC representative verified the indefinite hiatus of Kimmel’s talk show on Wednesday, September 17, informing Us Weekly via a statement, “Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be put on hold for an unspecified period.”
This action followed the 57-year-old Kimmel facing criticism for his opening monologue on the Monday, September 15, installment, where he addressed Tyler Robinson, who stands accused of the fatal shooting of conservative pundit Charlie Kirk at a Utah Valley University event on September 10.
“The MAGA faction [is] strenuously attempting to portray this young man who killed Charlie Kirk as distinct from their group, and exerting all efforts to exploit the situation for political advantage,” Kimmel remarked. “Amidst the accusations, there was mourning.”
Kimmel subsequently ridiculed President Donald Trump’s reply to a journalist who inquired about his emotional state following Kirk’s demise. (Trump, 79, responded, “I think very good,” before shifting the topic to the renovation of the White House ballroom.)
“He’s in the fourth phase of sorrow: renovation,” Kimmel quipped. “This isn't how a mature individual processes the homicide of someone he considered a friend. This is akin to how a four-year-old grieves for a goldfish, alright?"
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Nexstar Media, the owner of numerous television outlets, conveyed to Variety in a declaration that it “vehemently opposes Mr. Kimmel's recent statements regarding the slaying of Charlie Kirk” and intends to substitute Kimmel’s talk show with different content “for the indefinite future.”
Leno’s endorsement of Kimmel occurs over ten years after the duo shared an awkward exchange on The Tonight Show. During that period, Kimmel satirized Leno for reclaiming the talk show after his short handover to Conan O’Brien.
When Leno questioned Kimmel about his most elaborate prank, Kimmel quipped, "I informed someone that in five years, I would bestow my show upon him, and then once the five years elapsed, I did so, only to reclaim it almost immediately."
Their differences were settled in 2017 when Leno contacted Kimmel following a health challenge faced by Kimmel’s son. Leno recalled Kimmel’s earlier jab at him during a May segment on the “In Depth With Graham Bensinger” podcast.
"When Kimmel appeared on my program and embarrassed me on my own set, I permitted it. I didn't remove it," Leno recounted. "It was my error; I placed my trust in someone. I thought, 'Ah, I erred. Alright, I must accept the consequences.' And that's acceptable, it's acceptable. I mean, we had the option to edit it out of the broadcast."
