A major row has erupted in the world of US entertainment and politics, pitting a top Trump ally against one of America's most beloved television hosts and his formidable list of Hollywood defenders.
The firestorm began when Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative commentator and staunch supporter of Donald Trump, launched a startling public attack on Jimmy Kimmel. Kirk took to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to bizarrely suggest the ABC talk show host should be "behind bars" for his coverage of Trump's recent civil fraud case.
Kirk's inflammatory remarks did not go unanswered. Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis led the charge in Kimmel's defence, responding to Kirk's post with a characteristically sharp retort. "OMG! Is that your real account? It reads like a parody," she fired back, publicly dismissing Kirk's credibility.
She was swiftly joined by a chorus of other high-profile figures. Comedian and actor Patton Oswalt quipped, "You should be behind a different bar. The kind you get a drink from," while television writer and producer David Javerbaum offered a more direct assessment: "You are a stupid person."
The Spark That Ignited the Fire
The controversy stems from Kimmel's on-air commentary regarding the massive $355 million penalty handed to Donald Trump in his New York civil fraud trial. Kirk took specific issue with Kimmel's comedic take on the proceedings, accusing him of celebrating the judgment and misleading his audience.
In his now-deleted post, Kirk claimed, "Jimmy Kimmel should be in jail for what he did last week," arguing that the host's coverage constituted "election interference" by influencing public opinion against Trump.
A Pattern of Political Sparring
This is not the first time Kimmel has found himself in the crosshairs of Trump's circle. The late-night host has been a consistent and vocal critic of the former president, dedicating significant airtime to monologues critiquing Trump's policies and actions.
This ongoing feud highlights the deeply entrenched cultural and political divisions that continue to characterise American discourse, where entertainment figures are increasingly drawn into heated political battles.
The swift and public defence from figures like Curtis underscores the solidarity within the entertainment industry against what they perceive as baseless and dangerous attacks from political operatives.
