Jimmy Kimmel joked about former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani being 'in the grave' just days before the 81-year-old was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The 58-year-old late-night host addressed the backlash to another joke he made ahead of the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Tuesday when he targeted Giuliani.
'So last night, America's mayor, Rudy Giuliani, rose from the grave to weigh in on the ongoing drama involving me,' Kimmel said on his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! He then played a clip of Giuliani calling Kimmel 'one of the most distasteful human beings in this country' on his podcast.
When the audience booed Giuliani's remarks, Kimmel responded: 'I have to say, it hurts to be called distasteful by a man who farted his own pants off in front of Borat's daughter.' He continued playing the clip, in which Giuliani said, 'Kimmel was making believe that he was hosting the White House Correspondents' Dinner, which I think he did once, I don't know. Probably once... and about four people probably watched it and he bombed like usual.'
Kimmel laughed off the comments, adding: 'I have to say, it's confusing to be called an incompetent jacka** by a man who accidentally held a press conference outside a dildo store, who doesn't seem to have any understanding of when videos are running and when they aren't and has a gallon of squid ink dribbling off the top of his head. Do you think - does this man have any family members who can come get him already?'
Just four days later, Giuliani's spokesperson Ted Goodman announced the former mayor had been hospitalized. 'Mayor Giuliani is a fighter who has faced every challenge in his life with unwavering strength, and he's fighting with that same level of strength as we speak,' Goodman said. 'We do ask that you join us in prayer for America's Mayor - Rudy Giuliani.' The reason for his hospitalization in Florida remains unclear, but he was heard coughing and sputtering on a Facebook livestream Friday night, saying, 'My voice is a little under the weather so I won't be able to speak as loudly as I usually do.'
Kimmel Faces Backlash Over Melania Trump Joke
Meanwhile, Kimmel continues to face criticism for a joke he made about First Lady Melania Trump, calling her an 'expectant widow' ahead of the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The joke came just days before suspected gunman Cole Tomas Allen, 31, opened fire at the dinner in an apparent assassination attempt.
Melania responded by slamming 'Kimmel's hateful and violent rhetoric,' which she said was 'intended to divide our country.' 'His monologue about my family isn't comedy - his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America,' she wrote on X Monday morning. She called on ABC to 'take a stand' against Kimmel, while President Donald Trump went further, saying Kimmel should be 'immediately fired.'
Kimmel claimed his joke was about the 'age difference' between Trump and his wife, not an assassination. 'It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he's almost 80 and she's younger than I am,' he said. 'It was not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination. And they know that.' He also condemned the shooting attempt and offered condolences.
Kimmel then twisted Melania's words to criticize her husband again. 'I agree that hateful and violent rhetoric is something we should reject. I do and I think a great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband about it,' he quipped. He pointed out that both he and Trump are protected by the First Amendment, drawing applause from his audience.
The Federal Communications Commission has ordered early reviews of eight Disney-owned ABC stations, which could lead to license revocations. Disney's new CEO Josh D'Amaro now faces pressure to fire Kimmel. The Daily Mail has reached out to ABC and Kimmel's representatives for comment.
