Jimmy Kimmel received his first Peabody Award, a milestone in his long career in late-night television. In his acceptance speech, the host touched on the importance of free speech and also took a dig at his longtime adversary, President Donald Trump .
The conflict between Kimmel and Trump began even before the latter officially took office in 2015, and it has only intensified over the years as the two continued to trade public statements and criticism in interviews, monologues, and social media.
Jimmy Kimmel received his first Peabody Award. Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA
The 86th annual Peabody Awards ceremony took place on May 31, where 34 winners were selected across various categories. One of them was Jimmy Kimmel, recognized for his advocacy for free speech and for highlighting the importance of political satire.
Ben Affleck presented the host with the award, but not before poking fun at his best friend, Matt Damon, with whom Kimmel has had a decades-long feud. Affleck said Kimmel uses his show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", to "challenge authority," adding, "And by authority, I think we all know who that really means... a particularly selfish narcissist named Matt Damon.".
In concluding his opening remarks, the actor noted, "Comedy and satire are essential components of democratic discourse, whether the government likes it or not." Kimmel then accepted his award alongside his longtime co-host, Guillermo Rodriguez.
The host said that jokes should not bring him a reward.
Kimmel began his acceptance speech by admitting he felt "stupid" compared to the other winners, including documentary filmmakers and news program creators. He said he'd only ever called Trump "Fathead," then listed other nicknames he'd coined for his nemesis over the years. "Somehow we got a Peabody Award for this," he joked, adding that the country was "going to hell.".
«"Making jokes about the American president shouldn't be punishable by a reward. We have a constitutionally guaranteed right to criticize and ridicule our leaders," Kimmel continued. The TV host said he took this right for granted until he was suspended from the air for his remarks about Charlie Kirk in 2025.
Kimmel thanked the millions of people who supported him. "They made it clear that we care. And that we will stand our ground. And that we will not stand idly by while comedy, journalism, and dissent are censored, regulated, and criminalized," he said.
At the end of his speech, he thanked Trump, mentioning several other nicknames he had given him, including "Commander in Chief," "Orange Julius Caesar," and "Greedy McGolfie," for inspiring people to fight for free speech.
Jimmy Kimmel has been praised for his "master class" after returning to the airwaves following his suspension.
MEGA
In April, the names of 34 Peabody Award winners were announced, selected from more than a thousand submissions across several categories, including entertainment, arts, documentaries, youth programming, news, podcasts/radio, and interactive and immersive projects. The winners were chosen unanimously by a panel of judges.
Peabody CEO Jeffrey Jones said the winners "reflect Peabody's mission to celebrate stories that have the power to change culture.".
Kimmel has been selected to appear on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" for the 2025-2026 season. His bio, published on Peabody's website, notes his return to the show after his 2025 suspension and notes that he has delivered "a masterclass in publicly defending Kirk's comments while steadfastly defending his right to criticize the president and the MAGA movement that have sought to silence him.".
The comedian will be suspended from performing in 2025.
David Acosta/Image Press Agency/MEGA
In September 2025, Kimmel made several controversial comments in his monologues regarding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, leading to a threat from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to revoke ABC's broadcast licenses.
ABC then suspended Kimmel's show indefinitely, citing his "insensitive" remarks. The suspension sparked a backlash, with many celebrities and politicians condemning ABC for undermining freedom of expression and censoring Kimmel.
As the publication reported The Blast , Kimmel returned to his late-night show less than a week after his suspension.
The feud between Jimmy Kimmel and Donald Trump continues.
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
In April, Trump called ABC and demanded Kimmel's firing after his remarks at the White House Correspondents' Dinner before the shooting. The president claimed the host's remark about his wife, Melania, calling him a "pregnant widow," was a "vile call to violence." Despite Trump's calls, ABC did not fire or suspend Kimmel.
One of Kimmel's most recent attacks on the US president came after the wedding of Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson, which the president did not attend. In his monologue, Kimmel said that while Trump loves his son, he "just loves the United States more.".
The article "Jimmy Kimmel ironically thanks Trump in his Peabody acceptance speech" first appeared on The Blast.