Everyone didn’t take this comeback on a good note. Jimmy Kimmel is back on ABC after suspension, but former IndyCar star Danica Patrick says the host’s days might be numbered unless he changes his act.
Patrick, who openly supports Donald Trump, came out clearly when ABC reinstated Kimmel after suspending him for remarks about the late Charlie Kirk.
The comedian had joked that “the MAGA gang” tried to portray Kirk’s suspected killer “as anything other than one of them.” Disney, which owns ABC, called the comments “ill-timed and thus insensitive.”
That decision drew fire across the political spectrum, with reactions ranging from outrage to relief.
As Patrick pointed out, “Clock is ticking again.” Her words echoed the frustration she had shown before when Kimmel’s show was stopped.
Patrick Warns Kimmel To Drop The Attitude
Patrick reacted on Instagram after ABC announced Kimmel’s return.
“Totally fine, an employer has a choice to hire and fire and run a business.” she wrote. Still, she added a warning.
“I don’t think he is as funny as he used to be, but that little problem will take care of itself in time. He will either start making real jokes and not stupid distasteful emotional jabs or he won’t.”
Her frustration grew from Kimmel’s segment last week, where he mocked Trump’s grieving process after Kirk’s assassination in Utah. Prosecutors have since charged suspect Tyler Robinson with capital murder. Kimmel’s critics, including Patrick, argue the late-night host went too far.
The 43-year-old has only recently gotten into politics. She admitted she had never voted before backing Trump in last year’s election.
She first endorsed Robert F. Kennedy before he stepped aside to join Trump’s campaign. Now she has positioned herself as a blunt critic of political humor, calling out performers who, in her view, ignore the line between entertainment and activism.
Kimmel, meanwhile, remains one of ABC’s most visible stars. He has used his platform for years to jab at Trump and his supporters. But his suspension shows the network is willing to draw boundaries, and this issue isn’t ending anytime soon.
Even ESPN veteran loudmouth Stephen A. Smith shared his feelings earlier about Kimmel’s show being canceled, showing how far the conversation has spread beyond late-night TV.
For Patrick, the bottom line stays simple; in her eyes, money drives decisions. If the ratings slip or the laughs fade, she believes ABC won’t hesitate.
