Content Advisory: This article discusses political rhetoric, gun violence, and an alleged assassination threat. Reader discretion is advised.
Jimmy Kimmel’s Melania Trump joke may have sparked outrage from the first lady, but it also appears to have boosted attention around his show.
During Monday’s episode of ‘Outnumbered,’ Fox News host Emily Compagno audibly groaned after co-host Harris Faulkner noted that Kimmel’s ratings had gone up following the backlash over his “expectant widow” joke.
The panel was discussing Melania Trump’s X post calling out Kimmel over his mock White House Correspondents’ Dinner monologue, which aired on the April 23 episode of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ “Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country,” Melania wrote. “His monologue about my family isn’t comedy, his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America.”
Fox Host Reacted Badly To Kimmel’s Ratings
Compagno defended Melania’s criticism and said the first lady was “right to call out leadership.”
“We always talk about this,” Compagno said. “Whenever we see this heinous viewpoint on TV or in the news, or in the newspaper, or a podcast, etc., there is a platform behind it enjoying the advertising dollars that the clicks on it.”
Faulkner then revealed what the ‘Outnumbered’ team had found. “Our team at ‘Outnumbered’ looked this up: his numbers are actually up,” Faulkner said.
Compagno immediately groaned, “Ugh!” while shaking her head and shifting in her seat.
Faulkner added that Kimmel’s show was pulling around 1.8 million viewers a night, which she said was “far less than most of the daytime programming on Fox.”
Kimmel’s Melania Joke Started The Fight
Kimmel’s line about Melania came during his fake White House Correspondents’ Dinner bit. “Look at Melania, so beautiful,” Kimmel said. “Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.” He also joked about Melania’s documentary, saying it had a 10 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and calling it “the world’s first motionless picture.”
The jokes aired two days before gunfire broke out at the real White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton. Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other senior officials were in attendance.
Kimmel Said It Was A ‘Light Roast’
Kimmel addressed the backlash on April 27, saying the joke was not a call to violence. He described it as “a very light roast joke” about the age difference between Donald and Melania Trump. “It was not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination, and they know that,” Kimmel said. He also noted that he has spoken out against gun violence for years.
For now, the controversy is doing what TV controversies often do. Melania wants ABC to take action. Fox hosts are criticizing him. Trump allies are angry. And Kimmel’s numbers, apparently, are going up.
