Danica Patrick has piled on embattled late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, celebrating his indefinite suspension from ABC by resurfacing a cutting old remark from Charlie Kirk.
The former NASCAR and IndyCar star, who supported Donald Trump during his election campaign last year, didn’t hold back after news broke that Jimmy Kimmel Live! was pulled from the air this week.
Sharing the story on her Instagram, Patrick wrote: “Human decency is coming back. Thank God.”
She followed up by reposting one of Kirk’s withering 2017 tweets about Kimmel, which read simply: “Jimmy Kimmel isn’t funny.”
The move was widely read as Patrick trolling the suspended comic, using the late conservative activist’s own words to twist the knife.
Kimmel in Hot Water
Kimmel’s downfall stems from remarks he made during Monday’s show, where he discussed Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University.
“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 during his monologue.
The problem? The suspected shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, appeared in court Tuesday on multiple charges, including aggravated murder, after being taken into custody. Investigators have since stated he held far-left beliefs and was in a romantic relationship with his transgender roommate, contradicting Kimmel’s insinuation that Robinson was conservative.
The backlash was swift. By Wednesday, ABC announced Kimmel’s show had been “pre-empted indefinitely.” Affiliate group Nexstar Media, which owns dozens of ABC stations, announced on Wednesday that it “strongly objects” to his comments and “will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets.”
Fallout and Division
The suspension ignited fierce debate. Left-leaning celebrities rallied behind Kimmel, calling the decision an attack on free speech, while conservatives hailed it as overdue accountability.
Even the FCC Chair Brendan Carr weighed in, telling podcaster Benny Johnson that he was considering a formal investigation into Kimmel and ABC. Later that night on Fox News, Carr told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that Kimmel was simply “suffering the consequences” of his words.
Meanwhile, Kimmel himself was said to be “livid” after being pulled just hours before Wednesday’s scheduled taping, where he was reportedly planning to address the controversy.
Danica Patrick Joins the Pile-On
For Patrick, the suspension was more than a media scandal — it was a cultural win. By posting Kirk’s mocking 2017 tweet, she aligned herself with fans who view the episode as karmic payback.
The resurfaced post has gone viral, with many on social media calling it a “full circle moment” between Kimmel and the activist he once sparred with on-air and online.
What’s Next for Kimmel
For now, ABC is airing replacement programming in his late-night slot. Whether Kimmel returns remains uncertain — but with critics like Danica Patrick and even Kirk’s old words fueling the fire, the suspension has already become one of the most dramatic media scandals of the year.
