Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos made uncommon political remarks to express support for Jimmy Kimmel.
On Wednesday’s episode of Live With Kelly and Mark, the couple responded to the return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! to ABC—the same network that airs their morning show—following the brief suspension of Kimmel’s program.
Jimmy Kimmel taped his late-night talk show on Tuesday after being off the air for three episodes.
“Jimmy Kimmel returned to his show last night, and listen, we know him personally. When I tell you he’s one of the kindest, most generous people I know,” said Consuelos, 54, “he really means it. He takes care of his family, his crew, his staff—everybody. He genuinely cares.”
“He cares about people,” added Ripa, also 54, speaking of Kimmel, 57.
Consuelos also praised Kimmel’s Tuesday night monologue, noting that the comedian “was very humble in his speech.”
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos spoke about Jimmy Kimmel on their show.
“One thing we can all agree on as a country is that the First Amendment is really important,” the Riverdale actor said. “We do a lighthearted show here. We don’t talk about politics. We just don’t. We know our fans at home want an escape from all of that—and we agree. We want an escape, too.”
Consuelos added that he values free speech for everyone. “Because you never know—we could say something crazy tomorrow, and we’re gone,” he said.
The father of three also addressed the fact that both shows air on ABC: “It’s not lost on us that we’re sitting here in the Disney building, our home here. I think it was the right thing for the company to bring him back.”
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos on Live With Kelly and Mark.
Ripa noted that the country is at an “inflection point where no matter what you say, somebody is upset.”
“I think everybody needs to take a step back and really think about—‘I have a right to speak, and you have a right to say horrible things to me on Instagram,’” she said. “That’s the pleasure of living in a free society.”
Consuelos added that he has “dear friends” across the political spectrum and values them all, regardless of their opinions.
“This is a free society, a free country,” he said, as Ripa added, “Everybody’s welcome at our table.”
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos at ESPN’s Running With the Wolves premiere at the Robert A. Iger Building in Hudson Square, July.
ABC temporarily pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air last week following the host’s remarks about Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassination.
Kimmel, who has hosted the show since 2003, suggested that the alleged assailant, Tyler Robinson, was likely affiliated with the MAGA movement.
Jimmy Kimmel Returns to His Late-Night Show
Jimmy Kimmel Live! was suspended last Wednesday, but after swift backlash, Disney announced the host’s return to late-night just days later. The company did note that Kimmel’s comments were “ill-timed and thus insensitive.”
Kimmel addressed his remarks about Kirk’s killing during Tuesday’s monologue.
“You understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it. I understand that to some, it felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both. And for those who think I was pointing a finger, I get why you’re upset,” he said. “I don’t think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone. This is a sick person who believes violence is a solution—and it isn’t.”
Jimmy Kimmel on His Talk Show on September 23 – Jimmy Kimmel Live
“This show is not important,” Kimmel told viewers. “What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
Kimmel faced criticism for what some called his “crocodile tears.” During Tuesday’s episode, he did not issue an apology for his earlier monologue and mentioned Kirk’s name only once.
“Hard to feel sympathy for Jimmy Kimmel and his crocodile tears, given how gleefully he has always gorged on the career entrails of conservative stars who lost their jobs, like Tucker, Roseanne, etc. He’s become a partisan political activist, not a comedic host,” wrote The Post columnist Piers Morgan.
Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of The Charlie Kirk Show and one of Kirk’s closest friends, also said Kimmel’s comments were “not good enough.”
