Jimmy Kimmel's attempt at damage control fell flat Tuesday night, leaving conservatives more fired up and angry than ever after his botched handling of comments about Charlie Kirk's assassination. After Disney pulled him off the air for four days, the late-night host returned with what can only be described as a masterclass in how not to apologize and make matters worse.
Eyes brimming with crocodile tears, Kimmel claimed he never intended to make light of Kirk's murder or blame any specific group, but his words rang hollow to anyone who heard his original remarks. The fact that he teared up while discussing his Instagram post to Kirk's family felt more like theatrical manipulation than genuine remorse, and he still refused to admit that Kirk’s assassin was motivated by left-wing ideology.
The conservative response was swift and brutal, and rightfully so. Andrew Kolvet, Kirk's close friend and executive producer, called Kimmel's remarks "not good enough." When someone who actually knew the victim tells you your apology falls short, maybe it's time to listen instead of making excuses.
Not good enough. Jimmy, it’s simple. Here’s what you need to say:
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) September 24, 2025
“I’m sorry for saying the shooter was MAGA. He was not. He was of the left. I apologize to the Kirk family for lying. Please accept my sincere apology. I will do better. I was wrong.” https://t.co/YIR7JeFLIh
Actor and comedian Rob Schneider blasted Kimmel on X after the host's so-called apology on Tuesday night. Schneider accused Kimmel of dishonesty, writing, “In your semi-apology tonight, you LIED AGAIN. You were not making ‘light’ of Mr. Kirk’s death.”
Schneider argued that Kimmel’s suspension last week had nothing to do with telling jokes and everything to do with falsely blaming conservatives. “The suspension you justly received last week was for FALSELY ACCUSING, MAGA and Republicans ‘one of their own’ you said, for the murder of our friend Charlie Kirk when it was in fact just another in the long line of Murderous Leftist Lunatics who killed Charlie, who get their inspiration to kill from YOUR DANGEROUS LEFTIST RHETORIC. [sic]”
He went on to slam Kimmel and his peers for creating a toxic climate: “You and your other Late Night Host’s and the other illiberal media’s constant propagandizing and demonizing fellow Americans as fascists and Nazis have created the atmosphere where Leftists feel that killing people who think differently is justified.”
Related: Jimmy Kimmel’s Return Was as Bad as You Knew It Would Be
Schneider also accused Kimmel of not even trying to pass off his original remarks about the shooter as comedy. “And you were NOT even telling it in the form of joke either. You liar.”
Taking aim at Kimmel’s declining relevance, Schneider claimed, “Even your own ABC affiliates are bored and sickened by your constant political indoctrination by comedic imposition and refuse to air your show.”
He closed by defending free speech while making clear that many Americans have had enough of Kimmel: “Free Speech is indeed all speech. We must even protect the speech that we loathe. Well, most Americans are decent God fearing people and we loathe your speech but will continue to support your right to speak it freely. But we don’t have to watch. And we won’t. Signed, America.”
There were plenty of reactions from the conservosphere:
Remember when I was cancelled & held back tears on the air & Kimmel stood up for me saying “All she did was ask a Q about blackface Halloween costumes, whereas I, Jimmy, have actually worn blackface many times & still have a show! This is wrong!”
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) September 24, 2025
Me neither. F him & his self pity
It was your unrelenting hatred of conservative Americans that put Charlie Kirk in his grave, Kimmel. You called us all “fascists” until somebody believed you enough to kill a man better than you’ll ever be. How dare you even say his name. pic.twitter.com/btHmruOi2z
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) September 12, 2025
Hard to feel sympathy for Jimmy Kimmel and his crocodile tears given how gleefully he has always gorged on the career entrails of conservative stars who lost their jobs like Tucker, Roseanne etc.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 24, 2025
He’s become a partisan political activist, not a comedic host.
Kimmel’s theatrical performance Tuesday night perfectly encapsulates everything wrong with the left. When caught spreading dangerous lies, leftists pivot to victimhood and manipulation rather than genuine accountability. Kimmel's crocodile tears weren’t for Charlie Kirk’s family; they were for his own wounded ego and threatened relevance.
This entire episode has exposed the rotting foundation of late-night television, where political hatred masquerades as entertainment and where the death of a young conservative becomes just another punchline opportunity. Kimmel had the opportunity to make things right, and he chose not to.
