Kimmel’s Ratings Take a Nosedive Following Controversy
Jimmy Kimmel’s recent ratings boost was, unfortunately, quite brief. The host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” faced significant backlash after making comments related to Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin, which didn’t sit well with many. After some intervention from Disney, Kimmel returned to the show last Tuesday with an emotional monologue that drew a large audience, but their interest didn’t last.
By Thursday, the show’s viewership plummeted to an average of 2.3 million—down a staggering 64% from 6.5 million during his much-publicized return just a couple of days earlier.
Kimmel’s Transition from Apolitical Comedian to Activist
Among Kimmel’s advertisers, particularly those targeting viewers aged 25-54, even more viewers were lost, with a whopping 73% drop in key demographics. Initially, his return on Tuesday attracted 1.7 million viewers in that crucial age group, but just 48 hours later, it fell dramatically to 465,000.
Especially concerning was the loss among young adults aged 18-49: 1.2 million tuned in on Tuesday, but just 334,000 two days later—a 73% decrease.
Background of the Incident
The controversy began earlier this month when Kimmel mistakenly implied that Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect in Kirk’s assassination, was involved with the “Maga Gang.” He remarked, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the Magga gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who is doing everything he can to kill Charlie Kirk as something other than them.” This mischaracterization ignited considerable anger and led to scrutiny by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Following the backlash, Disney suspended the show after Nexstar and Sinclair pulled it from their airwaves. Kimmel, however, reportedly refused to apologize for his remarks.
His suspension didn’t last long—less than a week. When he returned on Tuesday, he delivered a passionate monologue but stopped just short of a full apology.
Nexstar and Sinclair eventually allowed the show to return on Friday after temporarily suspending it. Over the years, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has seen a slow decline in viewership, averaging 2.4 million in 2015, and steadily dropping since then. The average viewership has dropped to 1.6 million for 2025, a whopping 37% decrease compared to 2015.
Meanwhile, supporters of Kirk criticized Kimmel’s approach, claiming he failed to take responsibility. A spokesman for Turning Point USA stated, “Kimmel was an unrepentant liar, and he’s prayed for the past two weeks while trying to condemn the assassination of the country he has spent so thoroughly.”
