Jimmy Kimmel to Deliver ‘Personal’ Christmas Address Outside U.S. Amid Controversy

Jimmy Kimmel isn’t spending this Christmas playing it safe — or silent. The late-night host, who made headlines earlier this year after his public spat with President Donald Trump, is delivering a rare and “deeply personal” holiday address — but American viewers won’t see it on TV.

The comedian will headline The Alternative Christmas Message on the U.K.’s Channel 4, a long-running British tradition that offers a counterpoint to the King’s official Christmas speech. Kimmel’s version, airing Christmas Day, is expected to blend sharp humor with political bite.

“This has been a really great year — from a fascism perspective,” Kimmel reportedly quips in the prerecorded broadcast, a line that’s already lighting up social media.

The move follows what’s been a tumultuous year for Kimmel. In September, Jimmy Kimmel Live was briefly suspended after a fierce conservative backlash to remarks he made about the MAGA movement’s response to the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. The backlash came amid growing tensions between Hollywood figures and the Trump administration, which has accused “liberal media elites” of “pushing propaganda.”

Kimmel returned to air weeks later, defiant. “I’ve been told to ‘stick to jokes,’” he said in his first monologue back. “But I think we’ve had enough people sticking to lies.”

Channel 4’s statement described Kimmel’s message as “a deeply personal and characteristically jovial address,” reflecting on a year of political upheaval, personal change, and the enduring absurdity of American politics. The network has confirmed that the full video will be released on social media, making it accessible to U.S. audiences despite its U.K.-only broadcast.

For Kimmel, the invitation puts him in company with an eclectic mix of past hosts — from animal rights icon Brigitte Bardot and NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden to former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Each has used the platform to offer an “alternative” reflection on the state of the world.

During his final 2025 broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel Live, the host got emotional as he thanked viewers. “It’s been a strange year. It’s been a hard year. We’ve had some lows, we’ve had some highs,” he said, tearing up on air. “For me, maybe more than any year of my life.”

While his Christmas message may be airing across the Atlantic, Kimmel’s words are aimed squarely at home — and at the man still occupying the White House.

“Humor,” he once told Variety, “isn’t about making everyone comfortable. It’s about making people think — even if that makes them angry first.”

Source: Channel 4 / Variety / The Guardian