Jimmy Kimmel has been suspended “indefinitely” by ABC over his Charlie Kirk comments made in one of his opening monologues on his show, yet a comedic rival has now defended him

Comedian Jay Leno weighs in on Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension after TV stars’ 15-year feud(Image: Getty Images)

TV star Jay Leno has shared his thoughts and waded in on the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel.

Leon and Kimmel, who have had an ongoing fall out with comments made at each other’s expense, haven’t always seen eye-to-eye.

However, it appears Leno has defended Kimmel’s comments as he referred to the First Amendment Rights and claimed it was “free speech.”

Kimmel has been suspended “indefinitely” by ABC this week over his Charlie Kirk comments made in one of his opening monologues on his show.

However Leno defended the words and the jokes made, as he also revealed that he thinks “Jimmy will land on his feet” and praised his talent.

Speaking outside Chris Wallace’s Hollywood Walk of Fame, Leno told media including The Daily Beast, “I’m on Jimmy Kimmel’s side on that one.”

Jay Leno spoke out and shared that he ‘thinks Jimmy will land on his feet’ and praised his talent(Image: Getty Images)

He also shared that he could imagine a similar network suspension occurring while he was in the hot seat of the show, as he added, “These kinds of things happen all the time.”

He continued, “You don’t get canceled saying popular things.

Usually it’s the truth that winds up getting [you] canceled, so we’ll see what happens.”

Leno also told reporters that it should be viewers making the decisions over whether comedians stay on TV, not the broadcasters or network.

“It’s a comedian talking. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it,” he said.

“That’s the market. Let the people decide. If people like a show, it stays on the air.

I mean, that’s as simple as that.”

In a surprising move, he then praised Kimmel as he said, “I enjoy Jimmy. I like all the guys.

I think they’re really talented. I like jokes. That’s why I watch them.”

He added, “I think Jimmy will land on his feet. He’s a talented guy.

He’s funny. And let’s see what happens.

Maybe he might be on [TV again] in just a couple of weeks again. So, we’ll see.”

The TV icon then argued that what comedians say on air is also constitutional as he referred to the First Amendment Rights.

He explained, “I’m for free speech. Patrick Henry said it best: Give me liberty or give me death.

That was the first go-around with this argument.

It’s gone on for 200 years, and in a free society, it’ll go on for another 200.”

Kimmel has been suspended “indefinitely” by ABC this week over his Charlie Kirk comments made in one of his opening monologues on his show(Image: ABC via Getty Images)

The support for Kimmel from Leno is a surprising one due to the rocky history between the pair, with a feud at one point seeing the comedians making jokes at each other.

In 2010 Kimmel sparked the fall out when he mocked Leno for taking back The Tonight Show after briefly handing over to Conan O’Brien.

In a joke poking fun at Leno, Kimmel was asked what the best prank he ever pulled was and he responded, “I told a guy that five years from now, I’m going to give you my show, and then when the five years came, I gave it to him, and then I took it back almost instantly.”

In 2021 Kimmel appeared to take aim at Leno again as he congratulated O’Brien for finishing on The Tonight Show.

Kimmel said, “Anyway, here’s to Conan and Andy Richter and everybody involved with that show.

We look forward to whatever you have planned next at HBO Max.

And I also want to say congratulations to Jay Leno on his new time slot at TBS.”

Leno has opened up on the kick off and jokes as he spoke out on In Depth With Graham Bensinger.

He shared, “When Kimmel came on my show and humiliated me on my own show, I let it happen.

I didn’t edit it. It was my mistake. I trusted somebody. I went, ‘Ah, I made a mistake. Okay, I should pay the price.’

And it’s fine, it’s fine. I mean, we could’ve edited it out of the show.”

However, Leno has also hit out at comedians ‘preaching’ at viewers as said earlier this year, “I don’t think anybody wants to hear a lecture.

Why shoot for just half an audience? Why not try to get the whole?”

He continued, “I like to bring people into the big picture.

I don’t understand why you would alienate one particular group. Or just don’t do it at all.

I’m not saying you have to throw your support [on one side]. But just do what’s funny.”