Jimmy Kimmel Defies Advice and Reads Donald Trump's Message at the 2024 Oscars

Jimmy Kimmel Says He Was Told Not to Read Donald Trump s Message at 2024 Oscars Yes I Am 852

Jimmy Kimmel, Donald Trump. Getty Images (2)

Jimmy Kimmel revealed that he received a message from Donald Trump that he was advised not to read live on television during the 2024 Oscars. However, Kimmel went ahead and read it anyway. He shared that the decision to include the message was completely improvised, as he was told backstage not to air the diss. Kimmel, who is 56 years old, disclosed this information to Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos backstage after the ceremony.

During a backstage interview after the show, Jimmy Kimmel joked about being interrupted while reading a Trump tweet. The morning show hosts told him he had limited time, but Kimmel was determined to finish reading the tweet. He humorously recounted the exchange, saying, "I'm reading the Trump tweet," and insisted, "No, no, don't read that." Despite the interruption, Kimmel defiantly responded, "[I was like] 'Yes I am.'"

Kimmel, who hosted the 96th annual Academy Awards, shared a message from Trump on Truth Social. In the tweet, the former president criticized Kimmel's performance, describing it as "disjointed, boring, and very unfair."

The former president criticized Jimmy Kimmel's hosting at The Oscars, questioning if there has ever been a worse host. He expressed dissatisfaction with the show's emphasis on "political correctness."

Trump went on to label Kimmel's opening monologue as the attempt of an average person trying too hard to be something he is not. He described the Oscars as a show that is overly politically correct. Trump suggested giving the awards to those who truly deserve them to potentially boost audience and TV ratings. He ended his critique with the phrase "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

Jimmy Kimmel Says He Was Told Not to Read Donald Trump s Message at 2024 Oscars Yes I Am 853

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Kimmel ignored advice and used his extra time to respond to Trump. On the Dolby Theater stage, he teased, "Blah, blah, blah … OK, now, see if you can guess which former president just posted that on Truth Social. Anyone? No? Well, thank you, President Trump. Thank you for watching, I’m surprised you’re still — isn’t it past your jail time?"

Before the show, Kimmel mentioned that he hadn't planned many political jokes but admitted that he enjoyed poking fun at the Republican presidential candidate.

Kimmel shared with CNN that a fun aspect of his job is poking fun at Trump, who dislikes being mocked. He mentioned how Trump's reactions to the jokes bring him satisfaction and enjoyment.

This year marked Kimmel's fourth time hosting the Academy Awards, having previously served as the emcee in 2017, 2018, and 2023.

During a conversation with Ripa and Consuelos, Kimmel brought up Al Pacino's blunder at the Oscars. The 83-year-old actor accidentally ended the show early by announcing Oppenheimer as the winner without mentioning the other nominees. Kimmel jokingly commented, "I guess he's never watched an awards show before." It seemed like everyone knew the routine of announcing the winner, except for Al Pacino. Kimmel added, "God bless him."

Editor's P/S:

Jimmy Kimmel's decision to read Donald Trump's critical tweet on live television during the Oscars was a bold and unexpected move. Despite being advised against it, Kimmel's defiant act demonstrated his willingness to challenge authority and add an element of spontaneity to the highly scripted ceremony. His humorous response to Trump's critique further underscored his ability to turn even tense moments into comedic gold.

Kimmel's actions also highlighted the ongoing tensions between entertainment and politics. Trump's criticism of the Oscars as being too politically correct reflects a broader political divide that has permeated American society. By including Trump's message in his monologue, Kimmel acknowledged the elephant in the room and used his platform to address it in a lighthearted way. Whether or not one agrees with his viewpoint, Kimmel's decision to engage with Trump's commentary added an unexpected twist to the Oscars and sparked a wider conversation about the role of politics in entertainment.