Jimmy Kimmel Calls Suspension a ‘Death Experience’

Jimmy Kimmel is thinking about his 2025 rock after winning Best Talk Show at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards.

comedian talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!He faced a six-day suspension in September from the right wing for comments he made Charlie Kirkdeath’. Kimmel also faced repeated criticism from the President Donald Trump.

“It almost almost killed me,” the late-night host, 58, gushed in the winners’ room after her win on Sunday, January 4. People. “Well, not literally, but I felt like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn watching their funeral, when all these things happened.”

“Being here and seeing people react in a positive way, but in an almost desperate way, it’s like, ‘Oh boy, if they go after the comedians, that’s where we draw the line,'” he said of Sunday’s big win. “We are very grateful that they drew the line for us.”

ABC’s suspension of Kimmel’s talk show in September prompted speculation that the move was politically motivated. Trump has asked for his show to be canceled.

Members of the Trump administration criticized Kimmel’s comments after the Kirk shooting in September.

“We had a blast over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to portray this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything but one and doing everything they could to score political points on him,” Kimmel said at the time.

When he returned to the air six days later, Kimmel said, “It was not my intention to belittle the killing of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.”

On Sunday, Kimmel spoke directly to Trump, 79, during his acceptance speech at the Critics Choice Awards.

“We share this award with our late night colleagues, our nominated colleagues who didn’t care that we were here tonight,” he joked at the awards ceremony, which was held at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, California. “We thank all the writers and actors and producers and members of the union, most of you who are present in this room who supported us, and who pushed forward with us and reminded us that we do not take the speech of freedom lightly in this city or in this country, your actions were important and we appreciate them.”

Kimmel then thanked Trump, “without him we would have gone home empty tonight.”

“Thank you, Mr. President, for all the ridiculous things you do every day,” Kimmel said. “It’s been a few weeks, and we can’t wait to get back on the air tomorrow night to talk about them.”

Kimmel also mourned the death of his old friend and band leader Cleto Escobedo III in November 2025, which caused another short break.

“It’s not fair,” he said in an emotional episode on November 11 on his talk show. “He was the nicest person, very humble, kind and always funny.”

Kimmel added, “Let your friends know. We’re not here forever.”