What started as a heated online exchange between Keith Olbermann and CNN’s conservative commentator Scott Jennings spiraled quickly this week.
The former MSNBC and ESPN host fired off a post that looked very much like a threat, only to backtrack a day later under mounting criticism.
The Comment That Sparked the Fire
The trouble began when Jennings reacted to ABC’s decision to reinstate Jimmy Kimmel after his suspension over remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Jennings mocked Kimmel and his network, calling him “an insensitive p****.”
In response, Olbermann lashed out with a blunt message: “You’re next mother*****. But keep mugging to the camera, amateur.”*
FBI Gets Tagged Into the Drama
The post didn’t go unnoticed. Jennings quickly retweeted a screenshot of the message and tagged FBI Director Kash Patel, escalating the matter beyond just social media mudslinging.
Conservative commentators seized on the exchange, portraying Olbermann as unhinged and reckless.
Olbermann Walks It Back
By Tuesday, Olbermann was in damage-control mode.
He posted a statement on X apologizing “without reservation” to Jennings, insisting his words had been meant only as a career jab, not a physical threat.
“I oppose and condemn political violence,” he wrote, admitting he should have apologized sooner for leaving the wrong impression.
Jennings Fires Back With Sarcasm
Jennings, never one to hold back, mocked Olbermann on his radio show.
“I am live on the Salem Radio Network, marking myself safe from that nut Keith Olbermann,” he quipped, before branding him “the poster boy for complete broken brain progressivism.”
A Pattern of Provocative Posts
This isn’t the first time Olbermann has drawn outrage with his online commentary.
Just days earlier, he told Sinclair Broadcast Group to “burn in hell” alongside Charlie Kirk after Sinclair announced it would stop airing Kimmel’s show on its ABC stations.
That post was condemned across party lines as a cruel and dehumanizing attack before he deleted it.
Once a Star, Now a Provocateur
Olbermann, once a respected face on ESPN’s SportsCenter and MSNBC’s primetime lineup, has increasingly built a reputation for inflammatory social media tirades.
Supporters see him as fearless, but critics argue his rhetoric has gone far beyond legitimate political debate.
The Kimmel Connection
At the center of all this remains Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial return to late-night TV.
Disney executives, including CEO Bob Iger, reportedly negotiated his reinstatement without demanding a public apology, infuriating conservative broadcasters like Sinclair, who continue to block his show.
Olbermann’s defense of Kimmel only added fuel to the fire.
Media, Politics, and Tension Collide
The saga highlights the increasingly toxic overlap between media personalities and politics, where even late-night comedy can spark FBI mentions and social media feuds.
With tensions already running high, Olbermann’s words landed at perhaps the worst possible time.
What Comes Next
Kimmel is expected to address the controversy on his show, but whether he offers a full apology remains uncertain.
As for Olbermann, his apology may have cooled the immediate backlash, but the episode cements his place as one of the most polarizing figures in modern media.