Jimmy Kimmel obtained his first Peabody Award, marking a significant milestone in his long-running profession in late-night tv. Throughout his acceptance speech, the host touched on the significance of free speech, whereas additionally making verbal jabs at his longtime adversary, President Donald Trump.
Kimmel and Trump’s friction started earlier than the latter formally took workplace in 2015, and their battle solely intensified through the years as each continued to commerce public remarks and criticisms throughout interviews, monologues, and social media.
The 86th Annual Peabody Awards ceremony was held on Could 31, with 34 winners chosen throughout totally different classes. Certainly one of them was Jimmy Kimmel, who was acknowledged for defending free speech and highlighting the significance of political satire.
Ben Affleck handed the host his award, however not earlier than poking enjoyable at his finest buddy, Matt Damon, whom Kimmel has had a fictional feud with for many years. Affleck stated Kimmel made use of his present, “Jimmy Kimmel Dwell!” to “problem authority,” including, “and by authority I feel everyone knows who that actually means… one notably credit-hogging narcissist named Matt Damon.”
The actor concluded his introduction, saying, “Comedy and satire are important elements of democratic speech, whether or not the federal government likes them or not.” Kimmel then accepted his award along with his longtime sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez.
The Host Mentioned Making Jokes Shouldn’t Win Him An Award
Kimmel started his speech by admitting that he felt “dumb” in comparison with the opposite winners, together with documentarians and information applications. He stated he solely known as Trump “Fattyshack,” then proceeded to enumerate different nicknames he made up for his nemesis through the years. “In some way, we bought a Peabody out of that,” he jokingly stated, including that the nation has “gone to sh-t.”
“Making jokes concerning the president in America shouldn’t win you a value. now we have the suitable, assured by the Structure, to criticize and satirize our leaders,” continued Kimmel. The TV present host stated he took the suitable without any consideration till he was suspended for his Charlie Kirk comment in 2025.
Kimmel recommended the tens of millions of people that stood by him. “They despatched a message that we do care. And that we’ll arise. And that we’ll not stand by when comedy, and journalism, and dissent are censored, regulated, and criminalized,” he said.
He ended his speech by thanking Trump, mentioning a couple of different nicknames he had for him, together with “commander-in-thief,” “Orange Julius Caesar,” and “Grasping McGolfy,” for uplifting individuals to struggle for freedom of speech.
Jimmy Kimmel Was Counseled For His ‘Grasp Class’ Return Following His Suspension
The 34 Peabody Award winners have been introduced in April, following a range from a pool of greater than a thousand entries in a number of classes, together with Leisure, Arts, Documentaries, Youth, Information, Podcast/Radio, and Interactive & Immersive. The winners have been chosen unanimously by the Board of Jurors.
Peabody’s Government Director, Jeffrey Jones, stated the winners “replicate Peabody’s mission to honor storytelling that has the potential to alter tradition.”
Kimmel was chosen for the 2025-2026 season of “Jimmy Kimmel Dwell!” His Peabody profile highlights his return to the present following his suspension in 2025, noting he displayed “a grasp class in public apologia for the Kirk feedback whereas nonetheless, and doggedly, asserting his rights to criticize the president and MAGA motion that sought to silence him.”
In September 2025, Kimmel made some controversial remarks concerning the loss of life of conservative activist Charlie Kirk throughout his monologues, which resulted within the FCC threatening to revoke ABC’s broadcast licenses.
ABC then suspended Kimmel’s present indefinitely, citing Kimmel’s “insensitive” remarks. The suspension was met with backlash, with many celebrities and politicians calling out ABC for undermining freedom of expression and censoring Kimmel.
Kimmel returned to his late-night present lower than per week after his suspension, as The Blast reported.
Jimmy Kimmel And Donald Trump’s Feud Is Ongoing
In April, Trump known as ABC to fireside Kimmel following a comment he made previous to the White Home Correspondents’ Dinner capturing. The president stated the host’s “expectant widow” comment about his spouse, Melania, was a “despicable name to violence.” Regardless of Trump’s urging, ABC didn’t hearth nor droop Kimmel.
Certainly one of Kimmel’s newest digs on the POTUS got here after Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding ceremony to Bettina Anderson, which the president didn’t attend. In his monologue, Kimmel stated that whereas Trump loves his son, he “simply loves the US extra.”
