Fact Check: Was Jimmy Kimmel suspended for mocking Mitch McConnell in a social media post?
WASHINGTON, DC: Following his viral social media post mocking Senator Mitch McConnell’s photo from the hospital, a claim began circulating on social media platforms that late-night show host Jimmy Kimmel had been suspended by his organization. The claim has sparked mixed reactions from online users. Let us fact-check it.
Claim: Jimmy Kimmel has been suspended for a week for mocking Mitch McConnell
According to a viral post that surfaced on Facebook, CBS suspended Kimmel for “crossing the line” with his Instagram post mocking McConnell.
The post was accompanied by a caption stating, “Jimmy Kimmel couldn't wait to be a disgusting troll. Fortunately, CBS has higher standards these days, so Kimmel will spend this week at home without pay, costing the comedy-challenged hack more than $1.3 million.”
The post drew mixed reactions from online users, with many praising the media outlet for the alleged move, while others condemned it, indicating that many believe the claim to be true.
Fact Check: The claim of Jimmy Kimmel's suspension originated as a parody
The claim, however, is false, as there are no reports of the late-night show being suspended for his post mocking the senator.
Moreover, Kimmel works for ABC, not CBS, as claimed by the post. The idea of CBS suspending Kimmel, who works at ABC, is absurd and baseless, likely intended as satire made for the sake of engagement.
A search on Google for the claim did not yield any credible reports by prominent news and entertainment media outlets, which, if true, would not go unreported.
There are also no official statements or remarks from the outlet reacting to Kimmel’s Instagram post.
Additionally, the claim originated from a Facebook parody account called "America’s Last Line Of Defense," whose bio states, "Nothing on this page is real."
Mitch McConnell's health update and Jimmy Kimmel's reaction
On Sunday, July 12, McConnell broke his weeks-long silence about his health, revealing that a fall, a brief loss of consciousness and a mild case of pneumonia have kept him away from the Senate as he continues recovering in a rehabilitation center.
In a statement released alongside the first photo of him in a hospital bed with his wife, Elaine Chao, the 84-year-old Kentucky senator said he is improving but has been advised by doctors not to return to the Senate floor "quite yet."
In response to this, Kimmel shared a digitally altered version of McConnell's photo, putting his face onto the veteran senator's body.
