The New York Post — and conservative commentators like Dave Rubin — say they’ve pulled back the curtain on Jimmy Kimmel’s very unseemly reaction to being taken off the air, publishing DMs and behind-the-scenes clips that make clear he wasn’t contrite so much as aggrieved. That revelation isn’t just embarrassment theater; it’s proof that the same coastal media elite who lecture the country about decency think the rules don’t apply to them.
This all unfolded after the grim assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, an event that shocked the nation and set off a frantic, politicized media narrative. Authorities arrested and charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the killing, and prosecutors say the case will move forward amid intense scrutiny.
Instead of sober reflection, Kimmel used his platform to push an unverified political narrative — suggesting the suspect might be tied to the “MAGA” movement — a claim that mainstream outlets later showed was inaccurate and ill-advised in the immediate aftermath of a murder. That rush to politicize tragedy is exactly what corrodes trust in our institutions and inflames an already volatile climate.
When affiliates and viewers pushed back, the consequences hit: ABC briefly suspended Kimmel, several major station groups preempted his show, and even the FCC weighed in with sharp criticism of the host’s timing and tone. The networks’ scramble and the pushback from local stations proved that when the public and regional broadcasters raise concerns, corporate media can no longer simply sweep controversies under the rug.
The market responded too — Kimmel’s manufactured sympathy bounce evaporated, with viewership plunging after his return and conservative audiences whether rightly or wrongly concluding that accountability was long overdue. If late-night ratings and public trust are finally catching up to the left’s cultural arrogance, that’s a welcome rebalancing.
Hardworking Americans know this story for what it is: a lesson in consequences. Media elites who traffic in lies and partisan chest-beating should be held to the same standards they demand of everyone else. If Dave Rubin and outlets on the right have to drag these moments into the light to force transparency, so be it — patriotism means protecting truth and demanding responsibility from those who shape national conversation.
