Jimmy Kimmel is back in the hot seat, and this time the fallout is reaching a fever pitch. The late-night host landed in hot water after cracking a joke about First Lady Melania Trump that many found tone-deaf and dangerous. While some are demanding accountability, former ESPN anchor Sage Steele isn't holding her breath that ABC will actually pull the trigger on any punishment.
During a segment on his show last Thursday, Kimmel remarked that Melania had a certain "glow" — comparing her to an "expectant widow." The comment came just days before an armed individual attempted to storm the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, reportedly targeting President Trump and his cabinet. The timing couldn't have been worse, and the backlash was swift.
Kimmel attempted to defuse the situation during a monologue on Monday night, insisting his joke was about an age difference, not violence. But for Steele, that explanation doesn't cut it. Appearing on Jesse Watters Primetime, the former ESPN personality didn't mince words.
"I would say it would shock me if they did based on history," Steele said, via Fox News. "Will they? Who knows? Should they? Absolutely."
Steele didn't stop there. She called on Disney's new CEO, Josh D'Amaro, to make a bold statement by dropping the hammer on Kimmel. According to Steele, this is a golden opportunity for the network to draw a line in the sand.
"He has an opportunity now to reset, to say, 'You know what? Enough is enough. We as a network are not going to contribute to this hateful rhetoric,' and he can drop the hammer now," Steele argued. "This is your chance, not just to send a message to Jimmy Kimmel, but to all the other talent, to the executives, and most importantly to the American people, to say we are better than this."
The controversy has drawn sharp reactions from across the spectrum. Danica Patrick called the joke "disgusting, evil, completely unhinged", while former NFL kicker Jay Feely labeled Kimmel "dangerous." Even Kimmel's own wife reportedly distanced herself amid the feud with Melania Trump, who has publicly demanded ABC drop the host.
Despite the mounting pressure, Steele's prediction reflects a pattern she's seen before: networks often protect their top talent, even when the rhetoric crosses a line. But with a new CEO at the helm of Disney, she believes there's a chance for real change.
"That was not a joke. It was much worse than that. Everybody knows it," Steele concluded. "It is time, and I hope the new CEO does it the right way."
Whether ABC will take action remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Kimmel's joke has ignited a firestorm that isn't dying down anytime soon.
