Four-time Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel reveals why he won't return to the show in 2025
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA: Jimmy Kimmel has opened up on his decision to not return as the host of 2025 Oscars.
Making his appearance on the latest episode of ‘Politickin’ podcast, Kimmel explained that his son recently went through health struggles, including surgeries.
"“He had his third open heart surgery in May, and he’s doing great. You’d never know, other than the scar on his chest, you’d never know he had it,” Kimmel said.
“He’s a very funny kid, and he’s totally fine now. Hopefully we’ll never have to have another surgery of any kind. And thanks to the Children’s Hospital in LA, which is a great hospital,” the host shared
“When I’m focused on the Oscars, I’m less focused on the show. And I just decided I didn’t want to deal with that this year. It was just too much last year,” he began.
“You wind up pushing everything off ‘til after the Oscars, and you have to do everything you promised to do after the Oscars,” Kimmel added.
Why did Jimmy Kimmel refuse to host 2025 Oscars?
The ABC’s talk show host further said, “I did two years and it went well. I did another two years, it went well. I figured I’d take a little break.”
“I’m all in when it comes to something like the Oscars. I think about it in the morning and at night, and when I have ideas I want to work on them and then my nightly show seems like a nuisance,” he added.
‘The Live With Jimmy Kimmel!’ presenter also pointed out that his entire team of writers will be reassigned to write for the Oscars and it also doesn’t pay “nothing.”
Kimmel said he was merely given $15,000 for all of his work on the ceremony in 2024, reports The Hollywood Reporter.
Jimmy Kimmel opens up on being an Oscars host
Though, admitting it has been “fun to do,” Jimmy Kimmel said, “But for me, it just was too much to do it three years in a row. So you have full creative control over that, pretty much. I mean, it’s part of the deal. They don’t pay you, but they also don’t interfere.”
On being asked who could be his successor, the 56-year-old responded, “You know, it takes a lot of time. And a lot of the people who you think, oh, yeah, that person would be great. He’d be great. They know they’d be great. They just don’t want to do it.”
“And especially when you think somebody’s going to be great, the only thing they could do is prove you wrong when they host the Oscars. So they say it’s a thankless job. And I wouldn’t necessarily describe it like that, because when it goes well, it isn’t. But if it’s not, it’s a tough spot to be in,” Kimmel explained.
