Kimmel Faces Backlash Over Controversial Joke About Melania Trump
In a recent episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, host Jimmy Kimmel reignited controversy by repeating his off-color joke about First Lady Melania Trump, comparing her to a “pregnant widow,” just days before a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Kimmel, who had narrowly escaped backlash for a previous joke regarding Charlie Kirk’s assassination, made headlines again with his Monday night commentary. “Today was like deja vu for me,” he remarked during the show.
He mentioned that his roast aimed to imitate the comedic style usually seen at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which had to be canceled this year.
During his set, Kimmel quipped, “Our first lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, she’s so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have the glow of a pregnant widow.” This remark drew immediate criticism.
Following an assassination attempt on President Donald Trump, Melania Trump responded to Kimmel’s comments during her own monologue, echoing his earlier joke.
The harrowing event unfolded at the dinner when a gunman named Cole Allen attempted to attack members of the Trump administration as they gathered at the Washington Hilton.
Despite the chilling backdrop, Kimmel insisted that his act was far removed from the violence, describing his performance as a “sham.”
“Until this morning, there was no major response, but I was faced with another Twitter storm and calls for my firing from the first lady,” he said, reflecting on the backlash.
He remarked on Melania Trump’s demeanor, stating, “It’s about the age difference and the joy you see when she and Trump are together.”
In a social media statement, Melania Trump criticized Kimmel, stating, “Mr. Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is aimed at dividing our country.” She added that his monologue does not represent comedy and instead deepens the nation’s political issues.
President Trump also chimed in, demanding that ABC take action against Kimmel, asserting that he should be dismissed immediately.
Furthermore, Kimmel offered a superficial attempt to express sympathy for Melania’s “stressful weekends,” mentioning Trump’s ambitious renovations, and suggested that he might one day become a “socialite champion.”
Kimmel’s troubles didn’t end there; Oz Perlman, a scheduled guest for the show, canceled his appearance following the incident, which overshadowed the initial excitement of the dinner. Perlman was set to amaze attendees with a magic trick when chaos erupted in the hallway.
Podcast host Jon Lovett filled in for Kimmel and took the opportunity to make light of the situation, texting Perlman about his cancellation. “I’m texting The Mentalist right now…you canceled…” he joked, with an expletive-laden follow-up remark.
Lovett, known for his podcast “Pod Save America,” addressed the absurdity of the moment with a message to Trump, stating, “We’ve already had another episode where Donald Trump tries to cancel Jimmy Kimmel. Gas is up to $6 a gallon. Open the f**king Strait of Hormuz,” while acknowledging Kimmel’s ability to spur conversation during divisive times.
