Kimmel needs to get it together.
Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel became visibly emotional during the final episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! while delivering a year-end message to viewers, calling the past year especially difficult and thanking his audience for continuing to watch.
During Thursday night’s broadcast, Kimmel told viewers their support helped carry him through what he described as a deeply stressful period, both personally and professionally. The emotional monologue capped off a turbulent year for the ABC comedian that included political controversy, public backlash, and a brief removal of his show from the network’s schedule.
“It has been a hard year,” Kimmel said, struggling to hold back tears as he thanked viewers for their enthusiasm and loyalty. He credited fans with helping the show recover after months of criticism and negative headlines.
Kimmel acknowledged that many Americans work far harder jobs than hosting a late-night television show, but admitted that the constant political climate and public pressure have taken a toll. He said watching ongoing unrest, violence, and division in the country has made it difficult to process what he believes are obvious moral wrongs.
The host also reflected on what he sees as a fading sense of shared national values, saying ideas like “truth,” “justice,” and “the American way” feel less clear today than when he was growing up. According to Kimmel, that confusion has intensified over the past year.
Despite his concerns, Kimmel said messages from viewers who claim his show provides a sense of relief or perspective help him feel less isolated. He added that hearing similar feedback about other late-night hosts gives him reassurance that some Americans still feel connected through entertainment.
The emotional segment appeared to include another indirect criticism of Donald Trump, with Kimmel referring again to what he called a national “psychotic episode.” He also suggested that many of his viewers are unhappy with the country’s current direction.
“There is still more good in this country than bad,” Kimmel said, before wishing viewers well for the holidays, regardless of how—or whether—they celebrate.
When asked to respond, Fox News Digital quoted White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, who dismissed the show altogether. Jackson said responding to Kimmel would require watching the program, something she noted many Americans choose not to do.
Kimmel’s strained relationship with Trump dates back several months. In September, ABC and its parent company Disney temporarily removed Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the air after the host suggested—without confirmed evidence—that the suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was a supporter of Trump.
Following criticism, Kimmel returned to the show the next week and stated he never intended to misrepresent the situation or minimize a tragic loss of life. Nevertheless, the incident reignited conservative concerns about political bias in late-night television.
Last month, Kimmel further addressed the controversy by claiming Trump attempted to have him fired. He joked about the president’s persistence, a remark that drew renewed attention to the ongoing feud.
For many older viewers, the emotional moment served as another example of how deeply political late-night entertainment has become—and how far removed Hollywood’s perspective can feel from everyday Americans.