Jimmy Kimmel Told ABC He'd Quit if Execs Stopped Him From Making Trump Jokes
They Knew I Was Serious'
Jimmy Kimmel revealed on the most recent episode of Stichers Naked Lunch podcast that he threatened to quit his ABC talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, when ABC executives expressed apprehension over him telling jokes about Donald Trump. It appears the execs once spoke to Kimmel about laying off Trump in order to not alienate Republican viewers. Kimmel said ABC execs were right in their apprehension, as he estimates he lost around half of his audience due to Trump jokes.
There was one time, right around the beginning of this whole Trump thing
maybe not quite [eight years ago], Kimmel said when asked if ABC ever expressed concern to him about attacking Trump. I said listen, I get it, youre right. I have lost half of my fanbase, maybe more. Ten years ago, among Republicans I was the most popular talk show. At least according to the research they did.
Kimmel continued, I get it if [blocking Trump jokes is] what they want to do. I said, If thats what you want to do I dont begrudge you for it, but Im not going to do that. If you want someone else to host the show, thats fine with me. Im just not going to do it like that.'
ABC agreed to let Kimmel continue making Trump jokes, he said, adding, I was serious. I couldnt live with myself [if I didnt grill Trump].
https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/jimmy-kimmel-told-abc-he-d-quit-if-execs-stopped-him-from-making-trump-jokes-they-knew-i-was-serious/ar-AA13IrR7