JD Vance roasts Jimmy Kimmel after show suspension: 'His ratings were in the toilet'

WASHINGTON, DC: ABC’s decision to suspend 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' has sparked a political storm, with Vice President JD Vance leading the charge against the long-time late-night host, saying, “Jimmy Kimmel wasn’t funny, his ratings were in the toilet, and his advertisers were revolting.”

His comments came on X, formerly Twitter, as the suspension has ignited a debate on ‘free speech’ with Republicans and Democrats joining on either end.

The ABC network had taken the show off the air “indefinitely” following the backlash over the remarks Kimmel made about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

JD Vance unleashes his criticism

Vice President Vance wasted no time in skewering the suspended host. “Jimmy Kimmel wasn’t funny, his ratings were in the toilet, and his advertisers were revolting,” and also, he tried to silence those who criticized the suspension as an attack on free speech.

“Also the bellyaching from the left over ‘free speech’ after the Biden years fools precisely no one,” he said.

JD Vance admitted he was fan of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'

In another Tweet, JD Vance even acknowledged that he was once a fan of the show. “There was a point where I’d watch his show nearly every night. He’s a genuinely talented guy, but like so much good and funny in the world the woke thing destroyed it,” he wrote.

Earlier, injecting humor into his critique, Vance jokingly suggested Secretary of State Marco Rubio as Kimmel’s replacement. “Everyone please congratulate @marcorubio, the new host of ABC’s late-night show!” he wrote on Thursday, September 18 .

Jimmy Kimmel's remarks on Charlie Kirk's killing  

The controversy centers on Kimmel’s Sept 15 broadcast, where he referenced the killing of 31-year-old conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at a Utah student event.

Kimmel’s comments, criticized as politically insensitive, triggered strong reactions online and led to ABC’s announcement of suspension.

The network has not revealed whether Kimmel will return or who might replace him in the coveted late-night slot.

In a podcast interview earlier Wednesday, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr referred to Kimmel's comments about the killing of Kirk as "some of the sickest conduct possible," and said there was a "path forward for suspension over this." 

JD Vance joins Trump in attacking show's host 

Vance's recent comments came after President Donald Trump, who criticized Kimmel, saying, "Anybody could replace him, he had no talent."

The president added, "He's a whack job, but he had no talent. And more importantly, he had no ratings."

He also criticized the network, saying, "When you have evening shows and all they do is hit Trump … They're an arm of the Democrat Party."

JD Vance gets mixed online reactions 

There was a mixed reaction to Vance's post. One person supporting the view pointed out the FCC guidelines and said, "This is all true, but Jimmy Kimmel also deliberately lied. According to the FCC, it is “illegal for broadcasters to intentionally distort the news.” His suspension was more than justified."

Another user wrote supporting him, "Not to mention that it isn't even a "free speech" issue, it's a business issue. When affiliates won't air the show because he violated their licensing agreement ABC had no choice. The issue is that he told a blatant lie on a criminal case which violates policy."

Another user said, "That breakdown is dead on. Kimmel’s implosion wasn’t “censorship,” it was a cocktail of three things: ratings collapse, contract renewal, and an ego too big to apologize. it was advertisers, affiliates, and audiences saying “no more.” The Left calls that censorship. In reality? It’s consequence. Johnny Carson had it right: stay out of politics if you want to last. Kimmel didn’t listen, and now he’s toast,"

While a person criticizing him said, "I’m sure you stood for free speech when the left was pulling their nonsense & cancelling…So how about being consistent and still doing it now, when it’s not convenient for you."   

Another person reacted, "That's exactly what Trump said, you need a new quote."  

A netizen reacted, "1st Amendment does NOT say: Free speech shall be restricted if the person exercising it is not funny, have low ratings and his advertisers are not pleased. My problem is not Jimmy being fired, but the reason why he got fired (govermental pressure). We are not communists."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.