Kimmel Scores Legal Victory, Faces Backlash Over Charlie Kirk Remarks

Lead Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel secured a federal appeals court win Monday by having former congressman George Santos’s fair-use lawsuit tossed, even as Kimmel’s scathing comments on Charlie Kirk this week sparked criticism and debate nationwide.

Nut Graf The U.S. Second Circuit affirmed that Kimmel’s use of Santos campaign videos on Jimmy Kimmel Live! qualifies as fair use, underscoring broad protections for satirical news commentary. At the same time, Kimmel’s recent monologue about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting reignited scrutiny of late-night satire’s role in political discourse.

Legal Win Over Santos Appeal

  • On Monday, a three-judge panel unanimously held that Kimmel’s program lawfully repurposed Santos’s own videos for humor and critique, preserving ABC’s right to lampoon public figures without permission.
  • The ruling closes Santos’s bid to force ABC to remove clips featured in a 2024 segment mocking his false campaign claims.

Controversy Over Kirk Commentary

  • During Tuesday’s episode, Kimmel harshly rebuked former Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s political stance and President Trump’s response to Kirk’s September 10 assassination, likening Trump’s focus on White House renovations to a child mourning a goldfish.
  • Social media erupted with complaints that Kimmel mischaracterized the shooter’s motives, while supporters defended his satirical barbs as essential political criticism.

Tonight’s Episode Highlights

  • Comedian Wanda Sykes brings her new stand-up tour Please & Thank You to the stage.
  • Best-selling author Jay Shetty discusses his latest book on mindfulness.
  • Chef Christian Petroni offers a cooking demonstration of his signature Parm to Table recipe.

Looking Ahead With the appeals decision delivering a clear win for fair-use protections, Kimmel’s legal team plans to ask the court to cover ABC’s attorney fees. Meanwhile, the network anticipates further debate over late-night satire as the November election nears.