Jimmy Kimmel stays on air as ABC ‘doesn’t plan to fire him’ after Melania ‘widow’ joke controversy
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Having weathered one career shake-up before, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel now appears more entrenched than ever, with no indication he will be leaving his post anytime soon.
His bosses at the ABC network are also “sticking by” him despite a fierce backlash over his “expectant widow” joke about first lady Melania Trump.
The 58-year-old host has been in hot water for a joke suggesting Melania looked like an “expectant widow” in a monologue that aired just two days before the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
He was immediately stopped and arrested by law enforcement and was formally charged with three counts, including attempting to assassinate the president.
Jimmy Kimmel mocking Melania Trump at his alternate universe parody WH correspondence dinner saying ..
— Patriot Lady (@angelwoman501) April 26, 2026
"OUR FIRST LADY, MELANIA IS HERE. LOOK AT MELANIA, SO BEAUTIFUL MRS. TRUMP, YOU HAVE A GLOW LIKE AN EXPECTANT WIDOW."
Your reminder to cancel @Disney @ABC if ypu haven't… pic.twitter.com/scV2uk2IaQ
ABC backs Jimmy Kimmel despite backlash over Melania Trump joke
Kimmel’s quip quickly resurfaced following the shooting, prompting calls from President Donald Trump and Melania Trump for ABC to take action and fire him.
“Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community?” Melania said in her statement.
The president quickly agreed that Kimmel should be fired “immediately,” dubbing his joke “shocking” and “far beyond the pale.”
However, Kimmel’s bosses appear poised to push back, resisting pressure from the president and the first lady.
According to an ABC source who spoke to Page Six, the network “is sticking by” the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” host and “doesn’t plan to suspend him, fire him or cancel the show.”
The insider confirmed, “It’s back to taping per usual. They’re moving on.”
Jimmy Kimmel defends joke, denies inciting violence
During his monologue, Kimmel addressed the mounting pressure, insisting he had only been making an “obvious” joke about Donald Trump, 79, and Melania Trump’s age gap.
“It was not by any stretch a call to assassination. I agree that hateful and violent is something we should reject. … A great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband,” he said.
The late-night host then addressed Melania Trump directly, acknowledging how “traumatic and scary” the shooting must have been.
He also pointed out what he described as Trump’s “hypocrisy.” "Wait a minute. Did he just make a joke about his death?" he asked. "He should be fired for that! Only Donald Trump would demand I be fired for making a joke about his old age, and then a day later, go out and make a joke about his own old age!"
Kimmel made headlines last year when his show was briefly taken off the air over comments he made regarding Charlie Kirk’s death.
He returned within one week, drew record viewership, and has since signed a one-year contract extension through May 2027.
