Jimmy Kimmel reflected on one of the toughest years of his career after winning Best Talk Show at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards. The late-night host opened up about show backlash, public support, and repeated criticism from Donald Trump.
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Jimmy Kimmel had a night of celebration at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards. But his victory came with emotions and reflections.
The popular late-night host did not just take home a trophy. He also opened up about a year he described as one of the hardest chapters of his life.
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Jimmy Kimmel won the Best Talk Show award at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards on Sunday, January 4. This marked his second win in the same category.
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The awards ceremony was held at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica with top shows from television competing in various categories.
After winning the award, Kimmel spoke to reporters backstage. He spoke about what the past year had been like for him and his team. According to PEOPLE, he described the experience as emotionally overwhelming.
Kimmel said watching everything unfold felt strange and painful at the same time. He compared it to witnessing his own funeral, a moment filled with fear, sadness, and disbelief.
“It was almost a near-death experience for me,” he said, explaining that while nothing physical happened, the emotional toll was very real.
The tough phase began in September last year, when ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ was off air for six days. This happened after comments made by Kimmel sparked heavy backlash and public debate.
Although the show returned on September 23, the pressure did not fade away easily. Criticism continued. Kimmel became frequent target of attacks from US President Donald Trump who repeatedly called for the show to be cancelled.
The situation put Kimmel and his team under intense public scrutiny.
Despite the criticism, Kimmel said the public reaction surprised him in powerful way. Many viewers stood by the show. That support helped him push through the darkest moments.
He said the response reminded him how much comedy and free speech still matter to people. According to Kimmel, many fans felt that comedy should be protected, even when opinions differ.
“When they come after the comedians, that’s when people draw the line,” he said, adding that the support felt urgent and deeply emotional.
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