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Jimmy Kimmel Announces A Hiatus After Blackface Scandal Comes Back To Haunt Him

Late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel will be stepping away from “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for the summer to spend more time with his family after his blackface scandal reared its ugly head.

Jimmy Kimmel Taking Break From Show

Daily Mail reported that Kimmel has been facing pressure to apologize for his history of wearing blackface just like his fellow late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon did. On Thursday night, however, Kimmel insisted that all was well with him, and that he was only taking the summer off because he needed a break.

“I’m taking the summer off to spend even more time with my family,” Kimmel said. “I’ve been doing this job for almost 18 years. I’ve done 3,130 shows and there’s nothing wrong. My family is healthy, I’m healthy. I just need a couple of months off.”

Kimmel went on to add that during his break, “a cavalcade of very kind and capable people will be filling in” for him.

Kimmel has never addressed the fact that he frequently wore blackface on “The Man Show,” which ran from 1999-2004 on Comedy Central. Most infamously, Kimmel wore blackface while portraying NBA player Karl Malone in a particularly offensive sketch, below.

Both Kimmel and Fallon wore black face in their comedy routines.

BACKSTORY: Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon Silent as Their Blackface Pasts Come Back to Haunt Them

Jimmy Fallon Apologized For Chris Rock Sketch

Fallon was forced to apologize earlier this month when a “Saturday Night Live” sketch from 2000 resurfaced in which he wore blackface while portraying the comedian Chris Rock.

“I had to really examine myself in the mirror this week because a story came out about me on SNL doing an impression of Chris Rock in blackface,” Fallon said in his apology. “And I was horrified. Not of people trying to ‘cancel’ me or cancel this show, which is scary enough. The thing that haunted me the most was, how do I say I love this person?”

“I respect this guy more than I respect most humans,” he added. “I’m not a racist. I don’t feel this way. I realized that I can’t not say I’m horrified and I’m sorry and I’m embarrassed.”

“I realized that the silence is the biggest crime that white guys like me and the rest of us are doing, staying silent. We need to say something. We need to keep saying something,” Fallon continued. “And we need to stop saying ‘that’s not OK’ more than just one day on Twitter.”

Kimmel Can Run, But He Can’t Hide

He loves accusing President Donald Trump and his supporters of “racism,” yet he seems more desperate than ever not to address his own racist past.

Kimmel may think that running away and hiding for a few months will make his blackface scandal go away, but he has another thing coming.

James Conrad

James Conrad’s passion for politics is only overshadowed by his longstanding interest in Hollywood. His unique perspective as a gay conservative fuels him to challenge celebrity views and those who think they have a right to tell anyone how to think or vote. James proudly wields his minority point of view to combat identity politics and cut through his typecast. Fun fact: James’ guilty pleasure is the British royal family.