Jay Leno Comes To Jimmy Kimmel’s Defense After ABC Pulled His Show

Leno praised the comedian and other hosts as talented, emphasizing free speech, while reflecting on their past feud.

Jimmy Kimmel addressed the Charlie Kirk shooting on Monday, criticizing MAGA supporters for seemingly using his death to score political points, ultimately facing FCC scrutiny.

Jay Leno has spoken out following ABC’s decision to place “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on “indefinite suspension” after Kimmel’s controversial remarks about the September 10 shooting of conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk.

“I think Jimmy will land on his feet, he’s a talented guy, he’s funny, and let’s see what happens,” Leno, 75, told Access Hollywood during the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony honoring former Fox News anchor Chris Wallace.

Leno added, “He may be back on in just a couple of weeks again, so we’ll see. It’s a comedian talking, if you don’t like it, don’t watch it, I mean … let the people decide. If the people like his show, it stays on the air, I mean, it’s as simple as that.”

Leno also expressed admiration for Kimmel and his late-night peers, including Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers, describing them all as “really talented.”

“I’m for free speech,” Leno said, quoting Patrick Henry: “Give me speech or give me death,’ that was the first go around with this argument. It’s been going on for 200 years, and in a free society, it’ll go on for another 200.”

Leno’s recent comments come after he reflected on his long-standing feud with Kimmel.

During a 2010 appearance on “The Jay Leno Show,” Kimmel jokingly referenced Leno while discussing the infamous “Tonight Show” transition involving Conan O’Brien.

When Leno asked him what the best prank he ever pulled was, Kimmel said, “I told a guy that five years from now I’m going to give you my show, and then when the five years came, I gave it to him, and then I took it back almost instantly.”

In April, Leno revisited the incident on “In Depth” With Graham Bensinger, admitting, “When Kimmel came on my show and humiliated me on my own show, I let it happen. I didn’t edit it. It was my mistake; I trusted somebody. I went, ‘Ah, I made a mistake. OK, I should pay the price.’ And it’s fine, it’s fine. I mean, we could have edited it out of the show.”

He added, “It’s not good TV for me because it started a whole thing that continues to this day, really. But it’s OK, it’s all right. He’s a comic — you do what you gotta do. I mean, I wouldn’t have done it, but that’s okay. That’s all right. It is what it is.”

Aside from Leno, other late-night figures have weighed in on Kimmel’s suspension.

“Well, guys, the big story is that Jimmy Kimmel was suspended by ABC after pressure from the FCC, leaving everyone thinking, ‘WTF?'” Fallon said on Thursday’s “Tonight Show.” The former “Saturday Night Live” star, 51, added, “I do know Jimmy Kimmel, and he is a decent, loving, funny guy. And I hope he comes back.”

Jon Stewart also made a rare midweek appearance on “The Daily Show” to comment. Typically hosting only Monday episodes, Stewart, 62, was introduced as the “patriotically obedient host” of the “all-new government-approved ‘Daily Show’.”

He quipped, “We have another fun, hilarious, administration-compliant show. Coming to you tonight from a real s–hole, the crime-ridden cesspool that is New York City. It’s a tremendous disaster, like no one has ever seen before. Someone’s National Guard should invade this place, am I right?”

On NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” the host highlighted recent political tensions.

He said, “Donald Trump is on his way back from a trip to the United Kingdom, where he was met with protest, while back here at home, his administration is pursuing a crackdown on free speech.”

He continued: “May I just say, it is a privilege and honor to call Jimmy Kimmel my friend, the same way it is a privilege and honor to do this show every night. I wake up every day and count my blessings that I at least live in a country that purports to value freedom of speech.”