Bill O’Reilly Calls for Jimmy Kimmel’s Cancellation | Late Night Feud

Conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly has reversed his previous defense of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, now stating that Kimmel “shouldn’t be on the air” due to what O’Reilly characterizes as “hate speech.” The shift in O’Reilly’s position comes after Kimmel made a joke about former First Lady Melania Trump, prompting criticism and a statement from former President Donald Trump.

O’Reilly explained his change of heart during an appearance on NewsNation’s “Cuomo” program on Wednesday. He admitted he was “absolutely wrong” to initially defend Kimmel, recalling that he had previously given Kimmel “some slack” after the host made a remark about supporters of former President Trump being potentially responsible for an incident involving Charlie Kirk.

“So I’m not going to call for any sanctions against Kimmel,” O’Reilly said initially. “I believe I said that on this program. And I was wrong, absolutely wrong, because Kimmel has demonstrated to anybody who watches him that he hates — This represents hate speech. It’s not funny. It’s not satire.”

Bill O’Reilly, via NewsNation’s “Cuomo”

The controversy stems from a joke Kimmel made during a taping of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last week, where he quipped that Melania Trump had the “glow” of an “expectant widow.” This joke aired two days before a man from California was charged with attempted assassination of President Trump. O’Reilly believes Kimmel’s comments are part of a pattern of demeaning the president and now the first lady.

“There’s no social redeeming quality to demeaning, whenever he can, the president and now the first lady,” O’Reilly added. “So that’s how I would define it.”

Bill O’Reilly, via NewsNation’s “Cuomo”

O’Reilly had previously stated on Monday that Kimmel “shouldn’t be on the air, of course,” asserting that the host is “there to hate President Trump.” Kimmel responded to the criticism on his own show, defending the joke as “a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am.” He also emphasized his long-standing advocacy against gun violence.

“It was not, by any stretch of the definition, a call to assassination, and they know that,” Kimmel said on his show. “I’ve been very vocal for many years, speaking out against gun violence in particular….”

Jimmy Kimmel, via “Jimmy Kimmel Live”

This is not the first time O’Reilly has publicly criticized Kimmel. He has been a frequent target of O’Reilly’s commentary, often accusing him of biased attacks against conservative figures. The current dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between conservative media personalities and late-night comedians, particularly regarding political humor and its potential impact.

The situation also comes amid heightened scrutiny of political rhetoric following the attempted assassination of President Trump and the broader debate surrounding the role of media in shaping public discourse. The White House issued statements condemning Kimmel’s joke, adding to the pressure on the late-night host and prompting O’Reilly’s strong reaction.