Jimmy Kimmel’s cousin, Sal Iacono, has stirred curiosity after suggesting that the story behind the sudden suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! may not be over just yet.
The late-night show was abruptly pulled off the air last week by ABC, leaving fans and staff in shock.
Iacono, who has worked on the program for years as both a writer and performer, spoke about the controversy during an appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast.
While he tried to stay cautious out of respect for the crew whose jobs hang in the balance, his words hinted that there are still “bombshells” waiting to surface.
A Cryptic but Reassuring Message
“I wish I could say anything,” Iacono admitted, before adding, “There are a couple bombshells still there.
I’m feeling good. We’re going to be all right. Everything’s going to be just fine.”
When asked about his cousin’s future, he kept the tone lighthearted, joking that Kimmel could walk away from television altogether and reinvent himself as a pop-up chef serving barbecue in California’s South Bay.
“He’ll be fine, whatever he wants to do,” he said.
But beyond the humor, he drew a firm line: “We both know too much… Not only our cousin, but all the people working for the show, and it’s better if we’re not talking about this in any way.”
The Spark That Lit the Fire
The controversy traces back to Kimmel’s opening monologue last Monday, when he addressed the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
He pointedly criticized attempts to politicize the tragedy and didn’t hold back in mocking Donald Trump’s reaction.
During the segment, Kimmel showed a clip of Trump telling reporters he was doing “very good” following Kirk’s death—before shifting focus to construction on the White House ballroom.
“He’s at the fourth stage of grief: construction,” Kimmel quipped, adding that the former president’s response was more like a child mourning a goldfish than an adult grieving a friend.
The Fallout Escalates Quickly
The backlash was swift. Within days, political commentator Steve Carr threatened repercussions, and major broadcasters Sinclair and Nexstar yanked the show from their schedules.
ABC and Disney soon followed, announcing that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be suspended indefinitely.
That decision triggered outrage across Hollywood and sparked a wider debate about free speech on late-night television.
Colleagues like Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers all used their own platforms to rally behind Kimmel, framing his suspension as an attack on creative expression.
A Divided Response Across the Political Spectrum
While Kimmel’s peers and fans voiced support, conservative circles celebrated the suspension.
Even former President Trump chimed in on Truth Social, praising ABC’s move and taking shots at Kimmel’s ratings.
“Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible,” Trump wrote, before encouraging NBC to pull other late-night hosts as well.
What Lies Ahead?
For now, the future of Jimmy Kimmel Live! remains uncertain.
With Iacono hinting at more drama behind the scenes and the entertainment industry rallying to Kimmel’s defense, the saga is far from over.
Whether the host returns to his late-night chair, shifts gears into something completely new, or faces more fallout from the political storm, one thing is clear: this controversy has already made late-night television the center of America’s culture wars once again.