Molly McNearney, the wife of renowned US talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, has made a startling public appeal following her husband's now-infamous Oscars monologue. Her message was simple and direct: "Please don't vote for him."
The drama unfolded during the 2024 Academy Awards, where Kimmel, hosting for the fourth time, decided to read a scathing social media review of his performance live on air. The critic in question? None other than former US President Donald Trump.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump lambasted Kimmel's hosting, labelling him a "blathering idiot" and a "stupid guy." Never one to shy away from a confrontation, Kimmel addressed the camera directly, quipping, "Isn’t it past your jail time?"
While the audience erupted in laughter, the moment sent a chill down the spine of Kimmel's wife and co-head writer, Molly. Appearing on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! post-Oscars special, she revealed her genuine fear in the aftermath of the jab.
"I’ll tell you, my stomach hurt," Molly confessed to guest host Anthony Anderson. "I was like, ‘Please don’t read that.’ I was so nervous. I am scared."
Her anxiety stems from a place of deep concern for her family's safety in the current volatile political climate. She expressed a specific dread that her husband's joke might inadvertently galvanise support for the former president.
"The one thing… the one thing that terrifies me today is that he will be re-elected president and it will be because of that joke," she stated. "And I’ll have to live with that. And so, America, please don’t vote for him. I apologise."
Despite Molly's palpable fear, Kimmel himself appeared unruffled. He defended his decision, arguing that Trump's very public critique was an open invitation for a retort. "He’s reviewing me? He’s the president—he’s the former president… he’s reviewing my show?" Kimmel remarked, justifying his on-air clapback.
The incident highlights the intense and often uncomfortable intersection of entertainment and modern politics, where a joke at a glamorous awards ceremony can trigger genuine fears about real-world consequences.
