Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. praised a viral satirical social media thread discussing Stephen Colbert, late-night TV, and the decline of liberal comedy. He used this post to criticize Jimmy Kimmel as the era of ‘The Late Show’ concludes.
Kennedy used the post to address why Kimmel has received criticism from conservatives regarding his role as a comedian. Acknowledging the thread, Kennedy expressed that it was a ‘superb dissection’ of liberal comedy’s decline. He noted that it explains Kimmel’s statement that being funny is not his job. According to Kennedy, Kimmel was hired as a comedian but assumed a different role akin to a priest.
The satirical piece was originally written by Peter Girnus, who created the post while pretending to be a fictional ‘Senior Vice President of Late Night Strategy at CBS.’ Girnus focused on Colbert’s transition away from his Comedy Central character to a more serious late-show persona. Kennedy highlighted this argument, stating liberal comedy has moved from humor to ideological positions.
Girnus argued that late-night comedy had become a means of enforcing a specific ideology. He viewed the shift as beyond a single host, reflecting a cultural issue where jokes that stray from liberal views face backlash. Kennedy echoed conservative criticism of Jimmy Kimmel and late-night TV, suggesting comedians have shifted from entertainers to ideological figures.
The discourse emerged after Kimmel defended his political commentary on the ‘IMO’ podcast hosted by Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. Kimmel insisted that his job roles are flexible, based on his choices or his employer’s decisions. He emphasized enjoyment from audience laughter.
The satirical essay questioned the nature of comedy within liberal circles. Girnus claimed that an echo chamber environment suppresses true comedy, which relies on the element of surprise, not predictable entertainment.
Following this dialogue, CBS announced that ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ would conclude in May 2026. They clarified the decision was financial and unrelated to the show’s performance or content. Fox News Digital reached out to ABC for comments but did not receive an immediate response.
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