Jimmy Kimmel announces his Oscar break
The Oscar Feud between Jimmy Kimmel and Donald Trump in March boosted the viewing figures of the film awards ceremony. However, the host will not be leading the Oscar night next year. He now explains why.
US host Jimmy Kimmel wants to take a break from hosting the Oscars because the preparation is too time-consuming. "Last year was just too much," said the entertainer who has hosted the glamorous film gala for the past two years, in the podcast "Politickin".
"When it comes to something like the Oscars, I'm all in. I think about it morning and night," he said. His "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" show suddenly feels like a "hindrance". "In the end, you push everything until after the Oscar ceremony, and then you have to catch up later." He simply decided, "I don't want to deal with it this year."
Last month, it was announced that Kimmel, along with US actor and comedian John Mulaney, had declined to host the next Oscars. Who will host the 97th Oscar gala in March 2025 in Los Angeles is still unknown.
Kimmel has hosted the Oscars a total of four times: in 2017 and 2018, and again in 2023 and 2024. His appearance in 2024 achieved the highest viewing figures of the show in four years, with 19.5 million viewers, according to "People". His exchange with Donald Trump remained particularly memorable.
Trump Feud at the 2024 Oscars
Trump was apparently watching the awards ceremony at home and insulted host Kimmel on his own online network, Truth Social, during the broadcast. However, the Oscar host did not let it go. To the roaring applause of the audience at the Dolby Theatre, he read out Trump's post and responded with a witty comeback.
"I just received a review," Kimmel began, holding a smartphone on the Oscar stage. He then quoted Trump's insulting post: "Has there ever been a worse host than Jimmy Kimmel at the Oscars? His opening monologue was that of an average person trying too hard to be something they're not and never will be."
Kimmel then jokingly thanked the former US president for watching and asked in English, "Isn't it past your jail time?", which freely translates to: "Shouldn't you be in jail by now?".
Jimmy Kimmel mentioned his memorable feud with Donald Trump during the Oscars, which contributed to the ceremony's increased viewership that year. Despite declining to host the Oscars in 2025, Kimmel expressed that his exchange with Trump remained a standout moment in his multiple hostings of the prestigious film awards event.
