It’s no surprise that Academy Awards hosts often fall short as comedians and speakers, except for a few who’ve delivered memorable speeches and showcased charisma worthy of announcing the best in cinema (I’m looking at you, Ricky Gervais).
However, so far this year, the only standout host we’ve had was Trevor Noah, given Jo Koy’s lackluster performance at the Golden Globes and the disappointment of Jimmy Kimmel at the 2024 Oscars, who, besides delivering poor jokes and lacking charisma, commented on former President Donald Trump. While Trump isn’t known for his accurate opinions, this time he was right when he said Kimmel was the worst Oscar host in history.
Perhaps not the worst, as we’d have to review all the previous Oscars, but he left much to be desired and crowned his presentation with uncomfortable comments about actor Robert Downey Jr. about drug use (after years of sobriety) and an ill-advised joke about his private parts, with a live response directed at Trump… he was pissed off.
What Was Jimmy Kimmel’s Response to Donald Trump?
After Donald Trump wrote on social media about the “boring and disjointed” performance at the Oscars and called him the “worst host,” Jimmy Kimmel decided to read Trump’s comment live, eliciting laughter from the audience. At this point, it doesn’t matter who was right, but it’s clear that Kimmel was hurt by it, as there would be no other reason to make such a public comment other than his wounded ego.
Jimmy Kimmel calls out Donald Trump at the 2024 #Oscars pic.twitter.com/bAGWxUFg9P
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 11, 2024