Jimmy Kimmel says last year almost ended his career

Jimmy KimmelA year on late-night television almost ended his career, and now the veteran host is speaking candidly about how it came close.

After a storm sparked by controversial remarks following a political assassination, Kimmel faced threats, suspension and intense public backlash.

Standing on stage at Critics’ Choice Awards With a major victory, the longtime comedian reflected on the moment that pushed him to the brink and how the industry’s response ultimately set him back.

Kimmel described the fallout from last year’s controversy as a moment that almost ended everything he had built.

Speaking to reporters after winning Best Talk Show at the 31st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards, Kimmel said the ordeal felt like a “near-death experience.”

“It was almost a near-death experience for me. Of course, not literally, but I felt a bit like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn watching their own funeral, when all this happened,” he said, according to PEOPLE.

Kimmel acknowledged the overwhelming response from fans and other creatives, adding, “To be here and see that people are responding not only in a positive way, but in an almost desperate way, we’re like, ‘Oh my God, when they go after comedians, that’s when we draw the line.'”

He said the support reminded him why the moment was important.

Jimmy Kimmel also directly addressed the controversy during his Critics’ Choice acceptance speech, thanking those who supported him during the suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

“Thank you to all the writers, actors, producers and union members, many of you who are in this room, who have supported us, who have really stood up for us and reminded us that we do not take free speech for granted in this city or this country,” he said.

The 56-year-old closed his speech with pointed sarcasm aimed at President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized late-night comedians.

“Above all, I want to thank our President, Donald Jennifer Trump, without whom we would go home empty-handed tonight,” Kimmel said.

“So thank you, Mr. President, for all the many ridiculous things you do every day.”

He added: “It’s been a banner few weeks, and we can’t wait to get back on air tomorrow night to talk about it.”

As The explosion According to reports, the controversy began after Kimmel’s monologue following the September 2025 assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk was killed during a debate on the campus of Utah Valley University, and Tyler Robinson, 22, was later charged with the murder.

During the monologue, Kimmel accused the “MAGA gang” of desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Kirk as anything other than one of them.

He also claimed that they were working very hard to capitalize on the killing, and compared Trump’s reaction to the way “a four-year-old cries over a goldfish.”

Following FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s warning that ABC’s license could be in jeopardy due to the monologue, Disney temporarily pulled the broadcast of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” for six days.

Trump then suggested that networks that had given him negative coverage should have their licenses revoked, intensifying the backlash and protests.

Less than a week later, Jimmy Kimmel returned to the air and delivered a moving monologue in the face of the backlash.

“I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind, but I want to clarify something because it’s important to me as a human, and you understand that it was never my intention to take the murder of a young man lightly,” he said. The explosion.

“I don’t think there’s anything funny about that.”

He also clarified that he was not blaming any political group, saying he was not trying to blame anyone for the actions of what he described as those of a “deeply disturbed individual.”

The late-night host admitted that some felt his remarks were “either ill-timed or unclear, or perhaps both.”