ABC Entertainment has officially refuted claims that Jimmy Kimmel intends to conclude his late-night television program following the completion of the upcoming season, which would mark 24 years on air for the veteran host.
"This information is inaccurate — any reports about the future of the show at this point are purely speculative," an ABC Entertainment spokesperson told Us Weekly on Tuesday, September 8. The network's statement came in response to reports published the same day by Page Six and TMZ suggesting the 58-year-old host was preparing to exit his program.
According to Page Six, the new season of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, scheduled to premiere on Tuesday, September 15, would conclude with the host's final episode in May 2027. TMZ reported that sources indicated staff discussions centered on Kimmel developing pitches for alternative shows and podcasts.
The speculation arrives less than one month after Molly McNearney, Kimmel's wife and a co-head writer and executive producer on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, discussed her husband's potential retirement during an appearance on Dax Shepard's "Armchair Expert" podcast.
"It definitely appeals to me for the nervous system of the household," the 48-year-old McNearney said during the August 24 episode when asked about the prospect of her husband stepping away from the show.
McNearney expressed conflicting feelings about her husband's career trajectory, noting his desire for relaxation while acknowledging the significance of his platform. "I feel like Jimmy has a fly rod in one hand and a torch in the other right now. It's like he deserves to go out there and just be on the river and relax, but I also want him to keep fighting," she said during the podcast appearance.
She elaborated on the importance of the program's continued presence, stating that she believes the show provides viewers with a sense that their voices are heard. However, she concluded by acknowledging her personal preference: "But as his wife, I really would like him to be able to not do the show anymore so he could relax."
The program, which first aired in 2003, holds the distinction of being ABC's longest-running current talk show. The show faced significant controversy one year ago when it was abruptly removed from broadcast following Kimmel's commentary regarding the death of Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political activist who was assassinated at Utah Valley University at the age of 31 on September 10, 2025.
During the September 15 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host criticized conservatives for attempting to distance Tyler Robinson, who is accused of Kirk's murder, from right-wing movements. "The MAGA Gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it," Kimmel said at the time. "In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving."
ABC and the Walt Disney Company, which owns the network, suspended the show indefinitely, though the suspension lasted less than one week. Former Disney CEO Bob Iger addressed the incident during a June interview with the Financial Times, stating that his former organization "thought [Kimmel's joke] was in bad taste."
"We just wanted him to acknowledge that it was an ill-timed and probably inappropriate comment," Iger told the Financial Times at the time.
Representatives for Kimmel have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the retirement speculation.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
