Immediately after the Oscars ended Sunday night, host Jimmy Kimmel was interviewed backstage by Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos. The duo’s annual post-Oscars live special this year offered Kimmel’s reactions to some of the buzziest moments of the night, including his decision to close the show by addressing former president Donald Trump.
Donald Trump took to his social media site, Truth Social, to voice his opinions on Kimmel and the Oscars themselves.
“Has there EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars,” Trump posted. “His opening was that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be…Also a really bad politically correct show tonight, and for years – Disjointed, boring, and very unfair. Why don’t they just give the Oscars to those that deserve them. Maybe that way their audience and TV ratings will come back from the depths. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
After reading the post, Kimmel fired back at Trump live on stage saying, “Thank you, President Trump. Thank you for watching, I’m surprised you’re still — isn’t it past your jail time?”
Kimmel admitted to Ripa and Consuelos that people advised him against addressing Trump and his commentary, “They’re like, ‘You’ve got a little bit of time’ and I was like, ‘I’m reading the Trump tweet,’ and they’re like, ‘No, no, don’t read that,’” Kimmel said with a laugh. “[I was like] ‘Yes I am.’”
Kimmel’s wife and executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Molly McNearney revealed to Variety that she was one of the people trying to talk him out of it, but says now that Kimmel was right to trust his instincts, “I will tell you, I’m never going to win an argument in my household again!” she joked.
Kimmel added that he was “feeling pretty good” after his fourth time hosting the Oscars. He also weighed in on another viral moment of the show, Al Pacino’s presentation of the Best Picture award. Instead of reading the nominees, Pacino skipped right to opening the envelope saying, “And my eyes see Oppenheimer.”
“I guess he’s never watched an awards show before,” Kimmel said. “It seems like everyone in America knows the rhythm of how it’s supposed to go…down to the ‘And the Oscar goes to…’ But not Al Pacino! God bless him.”
Oppenheimer dominated the 2024 Oscars with seven wins, including Best Picture, Director, Actor, and Supporting Actor. Kimmel joked that he’d like to host the Oscars at least 20 times to beat Bob Hope’s record.
Leave a Comment