Jimmy Kimmel Embarrasses Trump With ‘Unparalleled’ Ratings Flex
The Daily Beast • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Jimmy Kimmel mocked President Donald Trump at the Disney Upfronts by highlighting his show's 25% ratings increase and unparalleled engagement, attributing the boost largely to Trump's frequent insults and attacks.
- Kimmel's show, which was temporarily suspended last year due to pressure from Trump's administration, has seen significant spikes in viewership following Trump's criticisms, with episodes responding to Trump showing audience increases of up to 29%.
- Despite the ratings success, Kimmel acknowledged that his feud with Trump has cost Disney billions, joking that hiring him was the worst personnel decision in the company's history.
- Kimmel also promoted Disney's upcoming Super Bowl broadcast on ABC, humorously noting the timing on Valentine's Day and making jokes about the halftime show lineup in relation to recent MAGA reactions.
- The ongoing public feud includes harsh comments from Trump and Melania Trump, who have criticized Kimmel's show as "unfunny" and "hateful," while Kimmel continues to leverage the controversy to boost his show's profile.