Jimmy Kimmel may have Italian citizenship, but he’s firmly staying in the U.S. Despite speculation, he clarifies his intentions and shares insights from his recent podcast appearance.
Jimmy Kimmel Clarifies His Italian Citizenship
Jimmy Kimmel may have Italian citizenship, but he’s not leaving the U.S.
Addressing the Rumors
The ABC late-night host returned from his summer break on Tuesday night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! and addressed months of speculation regarding his Italian citizenship. Some media outlets interpreted his announcement as a sign that he was planning to move to Europe as an “escape plan.” Kimmel set the record straight, stating, “I’m not moving to Italy. I never said that. This is where I live. This is my country. I have no intention of running away from it, especially because of Donald Trump.” He humorously added, “Let me tell you something, I would move into Mar-a-Lago if I could, just to drive him insane.”
Long-Awaited Citizenship
Kimmel explained that his Italian citizenship had been in the works for nearly 20 years, emphasizing that it was unrelated to the current U.S. political climate. “I love Italy,” he said. “Mostly what I like to do is bring my passport to parties and show it to people and make them jealous.”
Insights from the Podcast
Kimmel revealed his citizenship during an appearance on Sarah Silverman’s podcast. They discussed how some celebrities, like Rosie O’Donnell and Ellen DeGeneres, have left the U.S. ahead of Trump’s second term. Kimmel remarked, “What’s going on is as bad as you thought it was gonna be, it’s so much worse.”
Response to Colbert’s Cancellation
During his return, Kimmel also addressed the cancellation of CBS’s Late Show With Stephen Colbert and responded to Trump’s tweet suggesting he would be the next late-night host to lose his job. “Oh you delicate chubby little tea cup,” Kimmel said, addressing Trump. “You want us to be cancelled because we make jokes about you? I thought you were against cancel culture.”
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Upcoming Shows in Brooklyn
Kimmel announced he would return to his native Brooklyn for a week of shows starting September 29, teasing that one of his guests would be Stephen Colbert. He humorously added, “Unfortunately for Frosty the Snowflake, the only place we are going is to New York.”
Kimmel briefly responded to Colbert’s cancellation news on Instagram, saying, “Love you Stephen. Fuck you and all your Sheldons CBS.”
Conclusion
Colbert announced The Late Show‘s cancellation on air in July, which CBS described as “purely a financial decision.” However, speculation about other factors continues, especially given Colbert’s history of critiquing President Trump.
