Turning Point USA has issued a sharp rebuke of Jimmy Kimmel following his return to late-night television, calling the ABC host an “unrepentant liar” for failing to take responsibility for false claims he made about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
Kimmel grew emotional on Tuesday night during his first show back after a weeklong absence, insisting he never intended to make light of the tragedy. The Disney-owned network had sidelined him after backlash erupted over his remarks linking Kirk’s alleged killer to the MAGA movement.
Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of The Charlie Kirk Show and a close friend of Kirk, criticized Kimmel’s response and said the apology was insufficient.
“Jimmy, it’s simple,” Kolvet wrote, before offering the statement he believed Kimmel should have given: “I’m sorry for saying the shooter was MAGA. He was not. He was of the left. I apologize to the Kirk family for lying. Please accept my sincere apology. I will do better. I was wrong.”
Kolvet, who also serves as a spokesman for Turning Point USA, added, “Yes, Jimmy got emotional. So what. He’s emotional for himself because he almost torched his entire career.”
Kimmel had been pulled off the air after his original comments triggered anger from affiliates and caused concerns within ABC’s executive ranks. Kolvet accused the host of exploiting a national tragedy for political gain.
“Kimmel is an unrepentant liar who tried to blame Charlie’s assassination on the part of the country that just spent the last 2 weeks praying and holding vigils,” Kolvet wrote.
“It’s critical that liars admit they lied. There can be no restoration without that. Anything short of that is a fake and scripted cry line.”
Yes, Jimmy got emotional. So what. He’s emotional for himself because he almost torched his entire career.
Kimmel is an unrepentant liar who tried to blame Charlie’s assassination on the part of the country that just spent the last 2 weeks praying and holding vigils. What he’s…
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) September 24, 2025 [2]
Kimmel’s tearful remarks drew strong criticism across conservative media. Commentator Jack Posobiec posted on X:
“Look at Jimmy ‘The Martyr’ Kimmel fake crying tonight. Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender. DARVO playbook. This is what they do. In typical leftist fashion, Jimmy makes the victim himself.”
Look at Jimmy ‘The Martyr’ Kimmel fake crying tonight
Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender
DARVO playbook
This is what they do
— Jack Poso (@JackPosobiec) September 24, 2025 [3]
Radio host Dana Loesch also weighed in, saying, “No apology. He wasn’t making a joke. He outright lied about the killer because he hated the politics of the victim. Jimmy Kimmel can pound sand.”
No apology. He wasn’t making a joke. He outright lied about the killer because he hated the politics of the victim.
Jimmy Kimmel can pound sand. https://t.co/1xqgiMQ2Vc [4]— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) September 24, 2025 [5]
Republican strategist Scott Jennings added to the criticism, writing, “You used the phrase ‘MAGA gang’ & then lied about what happened. You definitely intended to make light of it and mislead the American people. Pathetic.”
You used the phrase “MAGA gang” & then lied about what happened. You definitely intended to make light of it and mislead the American people. Pathetic. https://t.co/lxVbyCNVUp [6]
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) September 24, 2025 [7]
The controversy highlights the continued fallout from Kirk’s assassination, with conservatives demanding accountability from media figures they say are attempting to distort the circumstances surrounding his death.