What To Know
- Megyn Kelly criticized Jimmy Kimmel for selecting Rosie O’Donnell as one of his summer guest hosts.
- Kelly mocked O’Donnell’s past comments about the 2024 election and accused her of spreading election denialism.
- O’Donnell, who relocated to Ireland after Trump’s return to the White House, will guest host Jimmy Kimmel Live! starting August 17.
A series of guest hosts will fill in for Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night show this summer, including one name that has irked former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly.
Kimmel revealed the line-up of guest hosts on last Thursday’s (June 18) episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! They include The Afterparty star Tiffany Haddish, Oscar-nominated actor Colmon Domingo, comedian Ike Barinholtz, Black-ish star Anthony Anderson, country singer Jelly Roll, and, most notably, former View co-host Rosie O’Donnell.
“As a special treat for our commander-in-chief, I asked one of his all-time favorites, Rosie O’Donnell, to be here to keep the hits coming,” Kimmel said on his show. “You’re welcome, and all I ask in return, Mr. President, is that you don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone. Okay?”
Kelly blasted Kimmel’s choices on her SiriusXM show on Monday (June 22). “Jimmy Kimmel’s going on vacay… for two months. Do you have a two-month vacay? Probably not. Do you have 30 acres in Martha’s Vineyard? Probably not,” she said.
“And guess who he has sub-hosting for him? It’s a litany of left-wing comedians, most of whom you don’t know very well because he’s worried about his job security,” the former Today co-host continued. “So, he’s got to find people who are lesser than he is. But none more so than the next person I’m going to show you.”
Kelly then aired a clip of O’Donnell’s recent appearance on Jim Acosta‘s video podcast, in which she said she doesn’t believe Trump legitimately won the 2024 election. “I think Kamala won. I do. And I think that we’re going to find all this out,” O’Donnell stated. “And I’m not the first person to say this. There are all these researchers who were saying it. I read it online again today.”
“Oh, she read it online, then obviously it’s true,” Kelly mocked. “I was told by some reliable sources that election denialism is wrong and basically makes you an insurrectionist or a supporter.”
“So, Rosie O’Donnell’s going to be hosting the Jimmy Kimmel show, and we have real questions about whether Rosie will be offering bits like this speculative questioning she gave to us a year or so ago,” Kelly continued before showing an old Instagram video O’Donnell posted about having a cold sore.
“MAGA gave her herpes, and now she’s guest-hosting Jimmy Kimmel,” Kelly said. “Note to the guests, don’t get too close. Do not do the hello kiss when you arrive on stage.”
Following Trump’s return to the White House, O’Donnell moved from the United States to Ireland with her daughter, Dakota. “When it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that’s when we will consider coming back,” she told her TikTok followers last year.
O’Donnell’s guest host stint will begin on Monday, August 17, and last for two weeks.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Weeknights, 11:35/10:35c, ABC