Jimmy Kimmel breaks silence on past year's challenges after Critics Choice Award win

Jimmy Kimmel has shared his thoughts about the past year after winning the 2026 Critics Choice Award.

For those unaware, the 58-year-old American television host and comedian has secured his second prize for Best Talk Show at the Critics Choice Awards, which were presented on January 4, 2026, at the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport in Santa Monica, California.

After winning the prize, Kimmel reminisced about the challenges his show Jimmy Kimmel Live! had to face a few months ago, including a week ban on his show.

Referring to his show’s suspension for six days in September 2025 over his remarks on the death of political activist Charlie Kirk, he said, "It was almost a near-death experience for me. Of course, not literally, but I did feel a little bit like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn watching their own funeral, when all this stuff happened.”

The Crank Yankers star added, “To be here and to see that people reacted to it in not just a positive way, but in almost a desperate way, we're like, 'Oh boy, when they come after the comedians, this is when we draw the line.'"

"We're very grateful that they drew the line at us," he stated.

For those unaware, the ban from Jimmy Kimmel’s show was lifted on September 23, 2025; however, it is still under the radar of President Donald Trump, who has on several occasions demanded the cancellation of his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!