Jimmy Kimmel Was Told Not To Do One Potentially Divisive Oscars Joke, but Did It Regardless

Summary

• Jimmy Kimmel’s Oscars performance got mixed reviews, but his Trump tweet joke was a highlight he pushed for.
• Despite minor controversies, the Oscars managed to avoid major drama, delivering an overall successful evening.
• The Academy Awards remain a staple of Hollywood, with this year’s ceremony being seen as a success.

The Oscars may have passed without any big hitches, but that doesn’t mean that everything followed the script. Host Jimmy Kimmel received a generally positive reaction for his part in the evening, even if some of his jokes didn’t hit the mark for those watching the show. However, one of the most memorable and timely punchlines of the night may not have happened if Kimmel had followed advice from the production team.

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After opening with a monologue that included a shot at the former misdemeanors of Robert Downey Jr, Kimmel interspersed the awards with plenty of safe, non-controversial moments of humor. However, towards the end of the ceremony, Kimmel stepped out to read out a social media post by none other than Donald Trump – something he revealed he was told not to do.

Speaking to Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos on Live with Kelly & Mark, Kimmel explained how he was advised against reading out the post live on air. He said:

They are like, you got a little bit of time. I’m like, ‘I’m reading the Trump tweet. They’re like, ‘No, no, don’t read that. I’m like, ‘Yes I am.’

The post was shared by the former President of the United States on his Truth Social site, in which he delivered a scathing critique of the event and of Kimmel himself. This was probably reason enough for the late night host to take it upon himself to have a little fun at the moment. Stepping onto the stage, Kimmel read from his phone:

“Has there ever been a worse host than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars. His opening was that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be. Get rid of Kimmel and perhaps replace him with another washed up, but cheap, ABC ‘talent,’ George Slopanopoulos. He would make everybody on stage look bigger, stronger, and more glamorous. Blah. Blah. Blah. Make America Great Again.”

Kimmel looked up from the phone and added his kicker:

Thank you President Trump. Thank you for watching. I’m surprised you’re still, ah…isn’t it past your jail time?

The Oscars Delivered a Night That Actually Celebrated Hollywood.

AMPAS

There are very few Academy Awards ceremonies that pass by without some kind of controversy. Although this year’s sailed close to the wind on a couple of occasions, there were no outbursts from celebrities, no stage invasions, and no slaps. Additionally, many of the awards outcomes landed exactly as expected, avoiding a long list of snubs and online backlash on behalf of those who “should have won.”

Following some of their most controversial years, The Academy appears to have steadied their ship. While it is unlikely that this kind of pleasant and gentle flow will continue into the future, there are very few people who would deem the 96th Academy Awards anything less than a runaway success. With 2024’s Oscar statuettes now with their new owners, moviegoers can look forward to another year of big movies that will have a chance to compete for the honors in 2025.

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