Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel has ignited a firestorm of criticism and accusations of ableism following a controversial segment on his own show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
The furore began when Kimmel made a light-hearted joke about his son Billy's past health struggles. The 7-year-old was born with a congenital heart defect, requiring immediate open-heart surgery. Kimmel's emotional monologues about his son's condition in 2017 and 2020 were widely praised for raising public awareness about children's healthcare.
A Joke That Crossed The Line
During the show, Kimmel recounted a story about his son's distaste for a Louisiana-based children's show called Bluey. The host quipped, "He has a heart condition — we almost lost him, if you can believe it. I mean, we almost lost him. Now, I’m not sure we got him 100% back."
The studio audience was heard laughing, but viewers at home were quick to express their horror on social media. The comment was swiftly condemned as "disgusting," "ableist," and a gross misstep for a host known for his heartfelt advocacy.
Social Media Erupts in Anger
The backlash was instantaneous and severe across platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. One user decried the joke as "horrific," while another stated, "Using your child's disability as a punchline is never okay."
Many critics highlighted the painful irony of the situation, pointing out that Kimmel has built a reputation on emotionally charged discussions about his son's health, only to now use it as a source of humour. The incident has led to calls for a public apology from the host.
Deafening Silence from The View
Adding fuel to the fire was the reaction from ABC's The View, the network's flagship daytime talk show. Co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar, who are usually outspoken on current events, completely avoided the topic the following day.
Their silence was noted by audiences, with many suggesting that the show was deliberately protecting its ABC colleague rather than addressing the clear controversy. This perceived hypocrisy has drawn further criticism towards the network.
As of now, Jimmy Kimmel has not publicly addressed the growing outrage or issued any apology for the remark made on his show.
