Jimmy Kimmel was invited on British television for Channel 4’s annual Alternative Christmas Message and openly insulted his home country when he said said, “We are not bright. We’re Americans.“ In the four-minute video, Kimmel was given a new platform to mock his ignorance of British culture, hurl sharp barbs at President Trump, and spend significant time talking about himself.
Jimmy Kimmel crying again in his return monologue on ABC – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live
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As a comedian, Kimmel may have the cover of self-deprecation to make up for his bashing of his home country. However, everything about his delivery came across as sincere (in the worst possible way). Parts of his message encouraged the people of the UK, but listeners at home may have found the remarks demoralizing.
Though his address was framed by the warm glow of a Christmas tree, the cardigan-clad comedian’s remarks were cold toward the United States.
America’s “Battle Over Free Speech”
Since 1993, Channel 4 has offered a wide range of personalities to address the British populace in a counterpoint to the monarch’s traditional Christmas address. Past speakers have included then-president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Stephen Fry, and even Marge Simpson. According to Channel 4, Kimmel was invited to give this year’s address because he “has found himself on the frontline of America’s battle over free speech.”
The irony, of course, being that in the UK, people are being arrested for social media posts.
ABC briefly pulled Kimmel from the air last September after the late night host made false remarks regarding the alleged murderer of Charlie Kirk. “The American government made a threat against me and the company I work for, and all of a sudden, we were off the air,” Kimmel claimed in his message.
Jimmy Kimmel on Colbert – YouTube, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
In reality, it was network affiliates that made the demands which resulted in his suspension. It’s a distinction Kimmel appears to ignore.
“Our show came back stronger than ever. We won, the president lost, and now I’m back on the air every night,” Kimmel added. Ratings for his show sharply declined after his return, and ABC has decided to only extend his contract for one more year.
When Kimmel claimed at the end of the speech, “We are not bright. We’re Americans,” he’s speaking about his own audience, which he has largely lost.
But he saved his most pointed remarks for President Trump, claiming that “we’ve got King Donny the Eighth calling for executions.”
Kimmel: “We Are a Right Mess”
Kimmel assured the British audience that “just for the record we have nothing against your king,” but went on to add, “We just — well, some of us — just have a problem with the guy who thinks he is our king.”
“Here in the United States right now we are both figuratively and literally tearing down the structures of our democracy,” Kimmel said. “From the free press, to science, to medicine, to judicial independence, to the actual White House itself, we are a right mess.”
Jimmy Kimmel reading tweets from President Trump at The Oscars – YouTube, New York Post
But Kimmel appeared to want to end on a positive note. “So, if I might speak on behalf of my country — which I most certainly do not — our message to you, our friends across the pond this Christmas is: don’t give up on us. We’re going through a bit of a wobble right now, but we’ll come around,” he said.
In a parting shot, he concluded, “No one knows better than you we’re always just a little bit late to the game, but do we come through in the end? Maybe. Give us about three years. Please.”
At the time of this writing, the White House has yet to respond to Kimmel’s remarks. But the audience for Kimmel’s late night show, many of whom stopped watching long ago, are likely unsurprised and as ready to tune him out on British TV as they are they are their own.
What did you think of the UK Jimmy Kimmel Alternative Christmas Message? Let us know in the comments!
Typical. Yimmy is speaking of himself and projecting that into others. Like everyone that accuses everyone of being terrible things with no evidence does when they don’t agree 100% with their views. If this guy’s mask drops any more, it’ll take his face with it and we’ll see the absolute void inside his head.