Sal Iacono, Jimmy Kimmel’s cousin, on Sunday commented on the late night show host’s future at ABC following his suspension last week over comments he made in the wake of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk’s killing.
In an appearance on “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” Iacono, who is also a writer and a regular guest on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” said he couldn’t reveal too much amid the ongoing controversy.
“I wish I could say anything. There are a couple of bombshells still there,” Iacono said. “So I’m feeling good. We’re going to be all right. Everything’s going to be just fine.”
ABC on Wednesday announced Kimmel’s show would be preempted “indefinitely” after Brendan Carr, the commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, threatened the network and its affiliates that there would be consequences unless ABC took action to discipline the comedian over his criticism of conservatives’ response to Kirk’s assassination.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr told podcaster Benny Johnson.
Iacono added that he and his family spent time with Kimmel and his family following what he described as a “tumultuous week,” before recalling an exchange Kimmel had with one of Iacono’s children.
“My kids, I think they felt weird approaching him at first. And my middle guy, Jack, who is a junior in high school, breaks the ice and says in his deadpan way says, ‘Hey, some kids at school say it’s not right what happened to you,’” Iacono said. “And so Jimmy says, ‘Well, what did you say?’ He’s like, ‘I said, yeah, I think you’re right.’”
Iacono recalled, “And Jimmy’s like, ‘Well, next time tell them, I’m not too worried about what happens. My cousin Jimmy is an excellent dancer.’”
Kimmel held discussions with ABC’s leadership last week following his suspension, but no agreement was reached between the two sides on his show’s potential return, Deadline reported.
Meanwhile, the sole Democratic commissioner on the FCC sounded the alarm over Kimmel’s suspension in an interview with Vanity Fair released Friday.
“This is the clearest and most alarming attack on the First Amendment and free expression by our government in recent memory,” Anna Gomez said. “I am very concerned.”