Oscars: Jimmy Kimmel Was Told Not to Read Trump’s Social Media Post On Air
The most shocking part of Sunday night’s Oscars ceremony: It ran ahead of schedule.
Jimmy Kimmel emceed the event for his fourth time, warming up the audience at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood with a zippy monologue that kept the night cruising despite its brief delay. Even though the host made multiple jokes that the show would almost definitely run over time, it didn’t, which left him with a few free minutes to read a social media post from none other than former President Donald Trump.
In an interview with Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos that aired Monday, Kimmel revealed that he was specifically asked not to read the message on the air. But since he had extra time to fill, he went ahead and did it anyway.
“They’re like, ‘You’ve got a little bit of time,’ I was like, ‘I’m reading the Trump tweet,’ they’re like, ‘No, no don’t read that,’ [I said], ‘Yes, I am!'” he told the Live With Kelly & Mark hosts.
Update: Our sister site Variety‘s breakdown of this year’s Oscars telecast reveals that it was executive producer Molly McNearney — aka Kimmel’s wife — who advised him not give TFG any airtime. “But he had a glimmer in his eye,” McNearney shared, “and he said, ‘I got this.’ He really did. This is where he shines.”
Trump began his post by asking if there has ever been a “worse host” than Kimmel, then said the monologue was “that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not and never can be.” He also criticized the awards show for being “disjointed, boring and very unfair.”
Kimmel’s live, on-stage response: “I’m surprised you’re still [up]. Isn’t it past your jail time?” The audience exploded in applause. (Watch a clip of the Live With Kelly & Mark interview embedded above.)
Other highlights from Sunday night’s show include Emma Stone’s surprise Best Actress win, Ryan Gosling’s “I’m Just Ken” performance and Robert Downey Jr.’s snubbing of Ke Huy Quan.
Thoughts on Kimmel’s Trump slam? Drop them below.
Traitor Trump can dish it, but he can’t take it.
Trump is a mental midget who will never be able to compete with pro’s like Jimmy Kimmel. This isn’t 2016 Trump, you are going to have a very painful 8 months ahead!
Great job Jimmy K!!!
I so agree, Trump has the emotional maturity of a twelve year old. I just don’t get it.
Ding ding ding ding boom… pshing poom. A regular rocket scientist he is.
FORMER president, please.
But current asshole.
The social media post was so over-the-top in its sheer trumpiness (“boring…very unfair…”) that I honestly thought it was a gag.
Exactly!! My first thought was “what exactly is unfair”? And if it was so boring, why was he glued to the set? He just looks so small and petty, but the hard core supporting base just eats it up.
Unfair? How? Did Trump try to contact elected officials again?
Jimmy delivered the perfect punch at Donald Trump! Trump was not smart enough to realize he was giving Jimmy the opening for the perfect punch on the Oscars 2024!
Kimmel’s trump jokes are always cringeworthy and he’s generally insufferable.
It was amazing! Trump had it coming. Like always.
What’s cringeworthy is Trump. Even more cringeworthy are people who still support that p.o.s.. Hopefully he’ll be in jail where he belongs soon enough. He has no chance of winning. His cult gets smaller by the day and the younger first time voters will never vote for him, they’ll vote blue just like at midterms. These young voters are growing up in a world no longer tolerate of hate and that’s exactly what Trump is all about…hate. Even smart republicans won’t vote for him this time around. Most won’t be voting bc they like Biden but hate Trump even more.
Kimmel was great! I loved him reading Trump’s post….why not? How he handled it was hilarious. The show in general was well done and I enjoyed it every much. Loved that it started an hour earlier and it ended on time…loved no long winded speeches.
Jimmy’s response to trump’s Tweet was perfect and hysterical. (I never spell his name with a capital letter because he is still a baby. He doesn’t deserve an adult name,) I think the laughter was a great burst of comic relief about the agonizingly slow net to drag him to prison where he belongs.
I am 81 and watch Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue last thing before bed. For me a life long Democrat, signing off with DTs post was pitch perfect! Katy Zatsick ARCWP Advocate for Justice and Peace
It’s “unfair” because he didn’t win anything. He expects awards despite not doing anything to earn them.
Trumpet head got exactly what he deserved. By the way it is past his jail time.
Still no response from Trump. The stable genius can’t think of a comeback?
If Trump didn’t want to hear anything back from Kimmel he should have not sent him that tweet. He got exactly what he deserves. He’s lucky that is all he said. I love Kimmel. He knows how to really get Trump back.