Jimmy Kimmel's Ratings Soar After Trump Administration's Attempt to Silence Him
The attempt by the Trump administration to silence Jimmy Kimmel seems to have had the opposite effect. Kimmel's return to late-night television garnered a massive audience of 6.2 million viewers, four times his usual numbers. Additionally, his monologue on YouTube has surpassed 21 million views, making it his most-watched monologue on the platform to date.
During Thursday's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the comedian expressed gratitude to the president for inadvertently boosting his ratings. Despite being preempted in 60 American cities, Kimmel's show had its second-highest ratings in almost 23 years on the air. The monologue from Tuesday night alone has accumulated over 21 million views on YouTube. Kimmel humorously thanked Mr. President for the unexpected support.
ABC had suspended Kimmel's show last week following a controversial monologue that criticized the right for politicizing the murder of Charlie Kirk. The suspension sparked a backlash from the entertainment industry, with over 400 artists and actors defending Kimmel's freedom of speech. Disney eventually decided to reinstate Kimmel after engaging in discussions with the host.
Donald Trump reacted to Kimmel's return by threatening to sue the network on his Truth Social platform. Kimmel, in turn, mocked Trump's response, likening him to an "Eighties movie-style bully" and dissecting his post line by line. Kimmel also took a jab at Trump's recent escalator mishap at the U.N. General Assembly, humorously questioning the president's physical prowess.
In conclusion, Jimmy Kimmel's defiance in the face of attempts to silence him has only bolstered his popularity and viewership. The comedian's return to late-night television has been met with overwhelming support from fans and the entertainment industry, solidifying his position as a prominent voice in late-night comedy.