Jimmy Kimmel is shedding new light on how Disney handled one of his most recent controversies.
Shortly before the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Kimmel joked on his late-night show that First Lady Melania Trump looked like an “expectant widow.” The comedian faced intense backlash after another attempt was made on the president’s life at the event. The First Lady herself took to social media, accusing Kimmel of spreading hate and adding, “Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand.”
Melania Trump – Amazon MGM Studios, YouTube
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Now, according to Kimmel, the Disney-owned network took a much milder approach.
Disney Reportedly Chose Not To Intervene
Notably, the “expectant widow” joke was not the first time Kimmel had faced backlash in recent months. After the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Kimmel made misleading comments about the alleged killer in one of his monologues. As a result of pushback from network affiliates and advertisers, he was briefly suspended. The decision sparked online debates about free speech.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Kimmel recently sat down with Vulture to reflect on his career. During the interview, he reportedly said that he should not be pressured to address issues he does not believe are wrong.
“One of the things we talked about when I first got suspended was that I can’t do this show if I’m going to be micromanaged,” he said.
After many in the industry came out in support of Kimmel while he was off the air, it appears that was a boundary Disney was willing to accept.
Jimmy Kimmel Crying – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live!
In response to the fallout surrounding the “expectant widow” joke, Kimmel said Disney simply told him to “respond and move on.
Kimmel Defended The Controversial Joke
Critics argued that Kimmel’s response only intensified the controversy.
“You know how sometimes you wake up in the morning and the First Lady puts out a statement demanding you be fired from your job?” he said on his first show after the backlash. “We’ve all been there, right?”
Rather than apologizing, Kimmel repeated the remark that had sparked the controversy and attempted to reframe what some accused him of suggesting.
Jimmy Kimmel in his UK Christmas Address – UK Channel 4
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“It was a pretend roast,” Kimmel explained. “I said, ‘Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at her. So beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.’ Which obviously was a joke about their age difference and the look of joy we see on her face every time they’re together.”
“It was not, by any stretch of the definition, a call to assassination, and they know that,” he added.
Disney Appears To Be Standing By Kimmel—For Now
While many online had hoped Disney would take strong action after Jimmy Kimmel’s “expectant widow” joke, the comedian says the company’s response was remarkably simple: “respond and move on.” Rather than distancing itself from the controversy, Disney appears to have accepted Kimmel’s position and allowed him to carry on as usual.
Jimmy Kimmel and Joe Biden – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live!
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That decision is unlikely to satisfy critics who viewed the joke as crossing a line. It may have also drawn federal scrutiny. However, Kimmel also acknowledged that his contract was extended for only one year instead of the customary three. For now, Disney may be standing by its late-night host. Whether that support extends beyond his current deal remains to be seen.
What do you think of Disney’s instruction to Jimmy Kimmel? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
