Griffin and Kelly Defend Kimmel Against Trump's Calls to Fire Him
Comedian Kathy Griffin and podcaster Megyn Kelly have spoken out in defense of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel following President Trump's demands that ABC fire him over a joke about Melania Trump. Kelly described the calls as inappropriate while acknowledging the joke was out of line. Griffin drew on her own past experience with presidential scrutiny to support Kimmel.
thewrap.comGriffin came to Kimmel's defense this week, referencing her own experience with presidential scrutiny. Barr had posted a tweet comparing former Obama aide Valerie Jarrett to the offspring of the “Muslim Brotherhood & Planet of the Apes.” Barr apologized for the tweet at the time. Kelly noted that ABC has “lots of examples” and “many scalps on their wall” from similar incidents.
Kimmel's comment occurred during a recent roast.
Neither source reported any immediate action by ABC or Disney in response to the calls. The defenses highlight ongoing debates about boundaries in comedy and media accountability.
Kelly emphasized that ABC set precedents for handling offensive content through past decisions. She cited the Roseanne incident as a specific case where the network acted swiftly. Griffin's support underscores personal experiences with backlash from political figures. The sources did not detail further responses from Kimmel or ABC officials.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
4 events- May 1, 2026
Megyn Kelly criticized President Trump's calls for Jimmy Kimmel's firing on her podcast.
1 sourceVariety - This week (prior to May 3, 2026)
Kathy Griffin defended Jimmy Kimmel, drawing on her own experience with presidential scrutiny.
1 sourcewashingtontimes.com - Recent (prior to May 1, 2026)
President Trump demanded Disney and ABC fire Jimmy Kimmel over his joke about Melania Trump.
2 sourcesVariety · washingtontimes.com - 2018
ABC canceled Roseanne Barr’s sitcom after her tweet about Valerie Jarrett.
1 sourceVariety
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