'Life's too short': Jimmy Kimmel might quit his late-night show to focus on family amid son’s health crisis, sources say

Jimmy Kimmel has reportedly been thinking about leaving his late-night hosting business as his son Billy underwent his third open heart surgery
PUBLISHED JUN 13, 2024
Jimmy Kimmel's son Billy has a congenital heart defect (Getty Images and Instagram/ @jimmykimmel)
Jimmy Kimmel's son Billy has a congenital heart defect (Getty Images and Instagram/ @jimmykimmel)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jimmy Kimmel has reportedly been thinking about leaving his late-night hosting business as his 7-year-old son Billy underwent his third open heart surgery.

Radaronline.com reported that the comedian would quit after his contract ends next year. A tipster shared, “Jimmy and his wife are putting family above fame.”

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 12: Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 95th Annual Academy Aw
Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 95th Annual Academy Awards (Getty Images)

Jimmy Kimmel won’t re-sign his contract

“With their financial future set, they’re ready to leave the limelight to focus on what really matters. Jimmy’s contract is up in 2025, and he has no plans to sign on again!” they revealed.

Another source said, “Life’s too short to waste on a job that no longer sparks joy.”

Though there has been no direct comment from Kimmel or his reps, a third insider asserted that the focus of the 56-year-old television host and his wife Molly McNearney, who is a co-head writer for ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’, “will be spending precious time with their family!”

Billy was born with congenital heart defect

As per reports, Billy has a congenital heart defect and he underwent his first operation soon after his birth in 2017.

At the time, Kimmel said, “They did an echocardiogram, which is a sonogram of the heart, and found that Billy was born with a heart disease.”


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel)


 

“Something called tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia. Basically, the pulmonary valve was completely blocked, and he has a hole in the wall between the left and right sides of his heart,” he added.

The child’s second surgery happened when he was a few months old followed by the third one a few weeks back.

Jimmy Kimmel calls Billy ‘the toughest and funniest 7-year-old’

Taking to Instagram, the Kimmel wrote, “This weekend, our boy Billy had his third (of three, we hope) open heart surgery. We went into this experience with a lot of optimism and nearly as much fear and came out with a new valve inside a happy, healthy kid.”

He continued, “Thanks to those loving strangers who took time to pray for and send positive energy to our baby, thanks to our family and friends for rallying around us to an almost-ridiculous extent, thank you to my wife Molly for being stronger than is reasonable for any Mom to be and Billy, you are the toughest (and funniest) 7-year-old we know.

“There are so many parents and children who aren’t fortunate enough to go home after five days. Please share your love, hearts and prayers with them and if it moves you, support @ChildrensLA (link in bio) or a great children’s hospital near you (@CMNHospitals).”


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel)


 

“Nothing matters more than taking care of each other. With love and gratitude," Jimmy Kimmel added.

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