Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel used his brief appearance at the Academy Awards on Sunday night to take aim at CBS and President Donald Trump while presenting one of the evening’s awards.
Kimmel appeared on stage to present the Oscar for Best Documentary and used the moment to deliver a pointed joke referencing the recent cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s late-night program.
“We hear a lot about courage at shows like this,” Kimmel said during his remarks. “But telling a story that could get you killed for telling it is real courage.”
He then pivoted to a jab directed at media companies he implied do not support free speech.
“As you know, there are some countries whose leaders don’t support free speech,” Kimmel continued. “I’m not at liberty to say which. Let’s just leave it at North Korea and CBS.”
omg Jimmy Kimmel just called out CBS at the Oscars and got a HUGE applause from the audience
“As you know, there are some countries whose leaders don’t support free speech. I’m not at liberty to say which. Let’s just leave it at North Korea and CBS.” pic.twitter.com/QcZhXuBYgV
— Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) March 16, 2026
The comment was a reference to CBS’s decision last year to cancel “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Network executives said at the time the move was driven by financial factors rather than political pressure.
“We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire ‘The Late Show’ franchise in May of 2026,” CBS said in a statement announcing the decision. “This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”
The cancellation came shortly after Colbert publicly criticized a $16 million settlement between Paramount and Donald Trump. Colbert described the payment as a “big, fat bribe” tied to the company’s proposed merger with Skydance Media. Critics of the cancellation argued the timing raised questions about whether the decision was influenced by political considerations.
Kimmel also took another jab later in his Oscars appearance, this time referencing a documentary about First Lady Melania Trump.
While praising filmmakers who take risks to tell difficult stories, Kimmel contrasted those projects with lighter documentary subjects.
“Fortunately for all of us there’s an international community of filmmakers dedicated to telling the truth,” he said. “And there are also documentaries where you walk around the White House trying on shoes.”
He followed the remark with another joke aimed at Trump.
“Oh, man, is he going to be mad his wife wasn’t nominated for this,” Kimmel added.
The Oscars moment was the latest example of Kimmel’s willingness to wade into political controversy during public appearances. The comedian faced backlash in September of last year after comments he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
At the time, Kimmel suggested the attacker may have been associated with supporters of the MAGA movement. Later reporting indicated the suspect had been influenced by left-wing ideologies, prompting criticism of Kimmel’s remarks.
Jimmy Kimmel presenting Best Documentary Feature at the Oscars: “Oh man, is he going to be mad his wife wasn’t nominated for this.” pic.twitter.com/tWM48GiuQ2
— LateNighter (@latenightercom) March 16, 2026
Disney temporarily suspended Kimmel following the controversy after several major broadcast affiliates—including Nexstar and Sinclair—declined to air his show in their markets.
Nexstar said in a statement that Kimmel’s comments were “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse” and called for a return to “respectful, constructive dialogue.”
Kimmel returned to his program after the brief suspension and addressed the situation during a monologue, saying his comments had been misinterpreted.
“It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel said. “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.”
He added that he had publicly expressed sympathy for Kirk’s family following the tragedy.
“I posted a message on Instagram the day he was killed, sending love to his family and asking for compassion,” Kimmel said. “I meant it. I still do.”
