Comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s self-designated role as the moral authority on universal health care due to his son needing open heart surgery (see Ben Shapiro’s response to this) has erupted into a personal feud with Fox News host Brian Kilmeade to the point of threatening physical assault.
Speaking on his late-night program on Wednesday, Kimmel responded to some of the backlash to his pleas for universal health care and took serious issue with a statement made by Brian Kilmeade on FOX & Friends earlier that day accusing him of pushing politics on people from his privileged status as a “Hollywood elite.”
“So these politically charged Emmys may have been the lowest rated in history but that’s not stopping Hollywood elites like comedian Jimmy Kimmel for pushing their politics on the rest of the country,” said Kilmeade.
Kimmel pulled no punches on Brian and made the fight very personal, calling him a wannabe “creep” who needs a serious pounding.
The reason I found this comment to be particularly annoying is because this is a guy, Brian Kilmeade, who whenever I see him kisses my ass like a little boy meeting Batman. Oh, he’s such a fan!
He follows me on Twitter. He asked me to write a blurb for his book, which I did. He calls my agent, looking for projects. He’s dying to be a member of the Hollywood elite. The only reason he’s not a member of the Hollywood elite is because nobody will hire him to be one.
And, you know, the reason I’m talking about this is because my son had an open-heart surgery and has to have two more, and because of that I learned there are kids with no insurance in the same situation.
I don’t get anything out of this, Brian, you phony little creep. Oh, I’ll pound you when I see you.
Kimmel embellished some of the facts about Kilmeade’s alleged “ass kissing” in that rant, which prompted a quick response from the Fox News host to clarify a few points about this so-called sycophantic relationship. For one, Kimmel makes it sound like Brian asked him for a blurb just last week, when in actuality, he asked him 14 years ago in 2003 when Kimmel was a host for Fox Sports. Two, the book had everything to do with sports and nothing with politics.
Kilmeade also thanked the late-night host for his solid work as a comedian as well his passion for the health care debate. He suggested that Kimmel engage in more debate with actual Republicans on the issue.
“I hope your son gets better. I hope your son gets all the care he needs,” Kilmeade said. “I’m glad you’re interested, you’re doing a great job bringing the dialogue out. But you should do what we’re doing. Talk to the people that wrote it.”
“Continue to do a great job,” Kilmeade concluded. “Best luck with your son.”