Jay Leno has opened up about his 2010 interview with Jimmy Kimmel on The Tonight Show, describing it as a moment where he was humiliated on his own show. Speaking on In Depth With Graham Bensinger, Leno said he allowed the incident to air without editing, calling it a mistake.
Kimmel, who was a guest on the show, made several jokes at Leno's expense, referencing the controversial host switch that saw Leno return to The Tonight Show after Conan O'Brien's departure. Leno had stepped down in 2009 after 17 years, only to return when his primetime show failed.
Leno admitted he trusted Kimmel and chose not to edit the interview, saying, 'It was my mistake, I trusted somebody.' He added that while the incident was not good TV for him, he accepted it as a learning experience.
The feud between the two comedians has since been resolved. Leno reached out to Kimmel after the latter's son underwent heart surgery in 2017, a gesture Kimmel said helped them make peace.
