Jimmy Kimmel’s emotional response to the fallout from his controversial monologue has ignited fierce backlash, with conservative strategist Andrew Kolvet blasting the late-night host as a “liar” who smeared millions of Americans mourning the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Kolvet, executive producer of “The Charlie Kirk Show” and one of Kirk’s closest friends, ripped Kimmel’s justification as “not good enough.”

“Jimmy, it’s simple,” Kolvet wrote, before posting the apology he said Kimmel should deliver: “I’m sorry for saying the shooter was MAGA. He was not. He was of the left. I apologize to the Kirk family for lying. Please accept my sincere apology. I will do better. I was wrong.”

Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet speaking at a memorial service.

Andrew Kolvet reacted to Jimmy Kimmel’s return to television after his show was suspended. REUTERS

Jimmy Kimmel with a pained expression.

Jimmy Kimmel became emotional during his monologue.
The Turning Point USA spokesman added: “Yes, Jimmy got emotional. So what. He’s emotional for himself because he almost torched his entire career.”

Charlie Kirk throws a red "Make America Great Again" hat into a crowd at Utah Valley University.

Charlie Kirk was shot and killed two weeks ago in Utah. AP

Kimmel returned to the air Tuesday night and grew teary-eyed as he insisted he never aimed to make light of Kirk’s assassination.

Disney-owned ABC sidelined Kimmel for nearly a week after he falsely linked Kirk’s alleged killer to the MAGA movement, a move that drew outrage from affiliates and sparked political blowback that reached the company’s C-suite.

Jimmy Kimmel sitting at his desk with a city skyline in the background.

Jimmy Kimmel returned to his late-night talk show on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Disney via Getty Images
Kolvet, who works for the activist group co-founded by Kirk, accused Kimmel on Wednesday of exploiting tragedy to push an agenda.

A tweet by Andrew Kolvet about Jimmy Kimmel being an "unrepentant liar" and criticizing his political agenda.

Andrew Kolvet reacted to Jimmy Kimmel returning to the air.
“Kimmel is an unrepentant liar who tried to blame Charlie’s assassination on the part of the country that just spent the last 2 weeks praying and holding vigils,” he wrote.

He added: “It’s critical that liars admit they lied. There can be no restoration without that. Anything short of that is a fake and scripted cry line.”

Kimmel’s tearful monologue Tuesday night drew swift backlash from conservatives who accused the late-night host of ducking responsibility for his false comments about Kirk’s assassination.

“Look at Jimmy ‘The Martyr’ Kimmel fake crying tonight. Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender. DARVO playbook. This is what they do,” Jack Posobiec wrote on X.

“In typical leftist fashion, Jimmy makes the victim himself.”

Dana Loesch torched Kimmel for refusing to apologize.

“No apology. He wasn’t making a joke. He outright lied about the killer because he hated the politics of the victim. Jimmy Kimmel can pound sand,” she said.

Scott Jennings echoed the criticism, writing, “You used the phrase ‘MAGA gang’ & then lied about what happened. You definitely intended to make light of it and mislead the American people. Pathetic.”