Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed approval for a viral satirical piece criticizing modern late-night television, specifically targeting Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel. Kennedy used the post to comment on the shift of liberal comedy from humor to ideological commentary.
Kennedy described the thread as an insightful critique of liberal comedy’s evolution. He criticized Jimmy Kimmel, saying, “This is the best explanation of how we’ve reached the point where Late Night host Jimmy Kimmel can say ‘It’s not my job to be funny.’” Kennedy suggested that Kimmel, originally a comedian, now acts more as a moral authority.
The satirical thread, written by Peter Girnus, presented a fictional narrative from a “Senior Vice President of Late Night Strategy at CBS.” Girnus focused on Colbert’s transition from his Comedy Central character to his new persona on a late-night show. Girnus wrote, “We killed the character and put the real man on stage. The real man was a lecturer. Earnest. Thoughtful. Correct about everything.” He added, “Correct is not funny.”
After Kennedy endorsed the thread, Girnus addressed the issue further by arguing that it was not just about one host but a broader cultural problem. He mentioned that jokes that fall outside liberal norms face restrictions, contributing to the problem.
The wider debate emerged after Kimmel defended his political comments on the podcast “IMO,” hosted by Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. Kimmel stated, “Don’t tell me what my job is. My job is whatever I decide my job is or whatever my employer allows me to do.” He emphasized his love for audience laughter.
Girnus argued that late-night shows have become platforms for endorsing ideas rather than offering unpredictable entertainment. He stated, “An echo chamber cannot produce comedy. Comedy is the act of saying what the room does not expect. An echo chamber is a room that punishes the unexpected.”
In July 2025, CBS announced the end of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” set for May 2026. CBS stated the decision was based on financial considerations, unrelated to the show’s content or performance.
Fox News Digital reached out to ABC for comment but did not receive an immediate response. CJ Womack is an associate editor at Fox News with expertise in journalism’s influence on politics and culture. He graduated from Long Beach State University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Journalism.