Jimmy Kimmel returned to TV last night and wasted no time in taking a dig at Donald Trump.

Kimmel returned to Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday night after nearly a week of suspension, opening with both jokes and an emotional reflection on the controversy that sidelined him.

The host, who had been pulled off the air following comments he made about the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s murder, walked out to a standing ovation before delivering his monologue.

Kirk Takes Swipe At Trump - Before Addressing Kirk's Family

"I'm not sure who had a weirder 48 hours — me, or the CEO of Tylenol," Kimmel began, noting Trump's recent announcement that Tylenol and autism could be linked.

The late-night host choked up as he spoke about Kirk, the conservative activist killed on September 10.

"I've been hearing a lot about what I need to say and do tonight," Kimmel told the audience. "

"And the truth is, I don't think what I have to say is going to make much of a difference … I have no illusions about changing anyone's mind."

He stressed that "it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man," noting that he had previously posted a message on Instagram offering condolences to Kirk’s family.

Still, he acknowledged why some people had been upset by his earlier remarks.

Jimmy Kimmel has returned. Credit: Media Access Awards Presented By Easterseals / Getty Images.

Free Speech, Disney, and Political Pressure

Kimmel used the moment to issue a broader warning about threats to free speech: "This show isn't important — what's important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this."

He also admitted that bringing his program back to air put Disney, which owns ABC, "at risk," arguing that the president "can't take a joke. We have to speak out against it."

Not long after his taping wrapped, President Donald Trump blasted ABC for reinstating Kimmel, writing on Truth Social: "I can't believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back.

"The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled!

"Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his 'talent' was never there.

"Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who's not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE."

Trump suggested that Kimmel’s show amounted to an "Illegal Campaign Contribution" to Democrats, adding: "I think we're going to test ABC out on this."

Jimmy Kimmel's show was taken off the air due to comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination. Credit: Leon Bennett / Getty

FCC Pressure and Affiliate Boycotts

Kimmel’s suspension came after he characterized Tyler Robinson, the suspect accused of killing Kirk, as being aligned with the MAGA movement.

"We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it," he said on his September 15 broadcast.

His comments drew sharp criticism from FCC chair Brendan Carr, who told podcaster Benny Johnson: "We can do this the easy way or the hard way.

"These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead."

Carr urged local affiliates to refuse to run Jimmy Kimmel Live! — and major broadcasters complied, per NPR.

Both Nexstar and Sinclair, which operate ABC stations across the country, pulled the show from their lineups and said they would continue preempting it despite Disney’s announcement that Kimmel would return to his regular 11:35pm ET slot.

Sinclair explained: "Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show's potential return."

Nexstar, which is seeking FCC approval for a multibillion-dollar merger with TEGNA, issued its own statement: "Pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve," it would continue to withhold the program.

Featured image credit: ABC/JimmyKimmelLive/YouTube

Jimmy Kimmel made a savage claim about Donald Trump's manhood in a blistering monologue.

The White House Correspondents' Dinner is set to take place this Saturday (April 25).

Traditionally, the annual event features a comedian roasting the president and political elite, but with the 79-year-old set to attend for the first time as president this year, that format has been scrapped.

Mentalist and author Oz Pearlman has been selected as the evening’s entertainer, a move Kimmel openly slammed during his Thursday (April 23) show.

"At the Correspondents' Dinner, typically someone funny shows up and roasts the luminaries and the president and everyone, but our president is a delicate snowflake with the thinnest fat skin of any human being ever," he said, before also calling the president a "trembling drama queen."

Unimpressed with the decision to ditch the comedy tradition, the 58-year-old created his own version of the event.

He stood behind a podium and delivered a nine-minute mock roast aimed at Trump, touching on everything from the Iran War to the Epstein Files to personal digs.

"By the way, before we go any further: Melania, this is Donald. Donald, this is Melania," he joked. "That was my impression of Jeffrey Epstein."

He continued with more pointed remarks, telling Trump: "Don’t worry, if we bruise your ego, it’ll only make your hands look less disgusting."

Kimmel then referenced the president's 2024 hush-money trial, quipping: "The president didn’t want me to tell any jokes about him tonight, but he also didn’t want to pay me $130,000 to shut up, so here we are... Sorry, mushroom d*ck.”

The Origin Of The "Mushroom" Jab

The host's comment draws attention to claims made years earlier by adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.

During a 2018 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live while promoting her memoir Full Disclosure, Daniels described an alleged encounter with Trump in 2006, which he has repeatedly denied.

In the book, she wrote: "I lay there, annoyed that I was getting f****ed by a guy with Yeti pubes and a D like the mushroom character in Mario Kart… It may have been the least impressive sex I’d ever had, but clearly, he didn’t share that opinion," cited by Rolling Stones.

Kimmel leaned into the moment during the interview by showing different mushrooms and asking Daniels to pick which one she believed closely resembled Trump.

"Can you hold it up so it’s coming at me at the correct angle?" Daniels joked before picking one of the smallest mushrooms.

She later addressed the backlash, saying: "Do you know how much hate mail I’ve gotten from people who love Mario Kart? In one day, I managed to ruin half of America’s childhood and mushroom farming everywhere."

According to The Mirror, the president is preparing to address members of the media directly during the event.

The Daily Beast reported that he is "expected" to target outlets that have criticized him, his administration, and his handling of the Iran war.

Featured image credit: Gabe Ginsberg / Getty

The release of thousands of emails connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein set the internet ablaze last week, thanks in part to one bizarre and unexpectedly viral exchange.

Within the document dump, published by the House Oversight Committee, readers found a strange conversation between Epstein and his brother Mark that referenced Donald Trump allegedly engaging in a sexual act with someone referred to only as “Bubba.”

That single nickname was all it took for social media to explode with speculation, jokes, and theories.

The email in question, dated March 2018, showed Mark Epstein telling his brother to ask Steve Bannon whether Vladimir Putin “has the photos of Trump blowing Bubba.”

Jeffrey Epstein, in response, quipped, “and i thought- I had tsuris,” using the Yiddish word for troubles. Once the messages surfaced publicly, users zeroed in on the nickname.

Why “Bubba” Immediately Sparked Clinton Speculation

The nickname Bubba has long been associated with former President Bill Clinton.

And given that both Clinton and Trump had well-documented ties to Jeffrey Epstein at various points, many online commentators jumped to the conclusion that the exchange was either a jab at Clinton, a coded reference, or something far more serious.

Emails between Epstein and his brother reference Trump and "Bubba", which many believe could be Bill Clinton. Credit: Aaron P. Bernstein / Getty Images.

Memes (most of them NSFW), joke theories, and mock-investigations proliferated across social media platforms within hours.

Some users approached it from a place of dark humor, while others attempted to read between the lines, convinced the brothers’ messages hinted at something hidden within Epstein’s infamous social circle.

Mark Epstein Issues Statement Denying Clinton Connection

As speculation gained momentum, Mark Epstein released a statement attempting to shut down the most prominent theory.

Shared by Business Insider reporter Jacob Shamsian, the statement insisted that people were misinterpreting the email entirely.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the reference to ‘Bubba’ in this correspondence is not, in any way, a reference to former President Bill Clinton,” Mark wrote.

He also described the exchange as “simply part of a humorous private exchange between two brothers,” criticizing attempts to attach broader meaning or political implications to the messages.

But while the statement dismissed Clinton as the person behind the nickname, it offered no alternative explanation.

The true identity of “Bubba” remains unaddressed, leaving the mystery wide open.

The Mystery of “Bubba” Remains Unsolved

For now, the question of who “Bubba” refers to remains unanswered.

And as more of Epstein’s communications continue to surface publicly, each new detail adds another layer to the already sprawling conversation surrounding his connections and influence.

Whether the remark was a harmless joke or a clue to something larger, the internet shows no signs of letting this particular mystery go anytime soon.

Featured image credit: Eugene Gologursky / Getty Images.

After The New Yorker's shocking expose on Harvey Weinstein, women everywhere have felt empowered to speak out against sexual harassment, assault and misconduct. Many famous figures in Hollywood and Washington have paid a heavy price for their actions: Netflix fired Kevin Spacey from the last season of House of Cards. The FX network cut all ties with Louis CK. Minnesota Senator Al Franken chose to resign from office. But you know who didn't face any repercussions for his alleged actions? Donald Trump. While everyone else lost their jobs, he became the most powerful person in the country. We all remember the video from the Access Hollywood tour bus: While waiting to shoot a segment in 2005, Donald Trump bragged to Billy Bush about grabbing women by the genitalia, claiming that "when you're a star, they let you do it, you can do anything." Isn't it weird that Billy Bush lost his job just for listening to these comments, while Donald Trump dismissed it as "locker room talk" and went on to win the election? Apparently, we have very high standards for hosts of cheesy tabloid shows, but not so much for presidents. But it's not just the Access Hollywood tape. Over the decades, more than 20 women have accused Donald Trump of sexual harassment, assault and abuse. With the rise of the "#MeToo" movement, the women have banded together, appearing on television shows and holding press conferences to implore Congress to conduct an investigation into Donald Trump's behavior. That hasn't happened yet. But Trump did finally respond to the scandal on Twitter, denying all of the allegations. He claims the women are lying, and that their stories are "fake news." [[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/940554567414091776]] Well, it's another big day for "fake news," by which I mean "real news the president won't like." According to a new report by The Wall Street Journal, Donald's Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, arranged a payment of $130,000 to a former adult film actress in 2016, in exchange for her keeping quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier. (Which means this incident occurred at roughly the same time as the Access Hollywood bus incident.) The woman who reportedly signed this nondisclosure agreement is Stephanie Clifford, who you might as know better as Stormy Daniels. (Oh, sure, pretend like you don't recognize her.) Back in 2016, just before the election, she was scheduled to appear on Good Morning America to discuss her affair with Trump. However, she suddenly cancelled at the last minute, without explanation and cut off all contact. (Possibly because of the non-disclosure agreement and the six figure check.) The alleged sexual encounter is said to have taken place at a Lake Tahoe golf tournament in July 2006. In fact, this is the same golf tournament where another one of Trump's alleged sexual encounters took place. Adult film actress Jessica Drake - who is one of Trump's twenty accusers - says she was at the event when Donald grabbed her, kissed her and offered her $10,000 for sex. In a statement to The Wall Street Journal, Michael Cohen calls the allegations "outlandish" and says that Trump "once again vehemently denies" the encounter. The official White House position is that all the women are lying, and Congress seems reluctant to conduct any kind of investigation. But maybe this scandal gives hope to disgraced figures like Kevin Spacey, Louis CK and Senator Al Franken. If you're accused of sexual misconduct, just run for President as a Republican. You'll never lose your job.

The internet erupted this week after the House Oversight Committee released thousands of emails connected to billionaire child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Among the trove of documents was one particularly strange exchange between Epstein and his brother Mark, featuring a reference that immediately captured the attention of social media users: an offhand remark about Donald Trump allegedly performing a sexual act on someone identified only as “Bubba.”

The email, sent in March 2018, showed Mark Epstein urging his brother to ask former Trump adviser Steve Bannon whether Russian President Vladimir Putin “has the photos of Trump blowing Bubba.” Jeffrey Epstein responded dryly: “and i thought- I had tsuris,” invoking the Yiddish word for “troubles.”

Once the email hit the public sphere, the internet had a field day. The term “Bubba” is long associated with former President Bill Clinton, who, like Trump, had known ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

That connection sent social media into overdrive, spawning jokes, memes, and half-serious theories about what (or who) the cryptic reference could be referring to. Users debated whether the line was a serious allegation, a coded message, or simply two brothers engaging in dark humor.

Emails between Epstein and his brother reference Trump and "Bubba", which many believe could refer to Bill Clinton. Credit: Aaron P. Bernstein / Getty Images.

Mark Epstein Insists “Bubba” Is Not Bill Clinton

Amid the uproar, Mark Epstein issued a public statement attempting to tamp down the swirling speculation. His response, shared online Saturday by Business Insider’s Jacob Shamsian, asserted that the email exchange had been misinterpreted and that internet theories tying the remark to Bill Clinton were entirely misplaced.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the reference to ‘Bubba’ in this correspondence is not, in any way, a reference to former President Bill Clinton,” the statement read.

Mark described the messages as “simply part of a humorous private exchange between two brothers”, insisting that any attempts to tie the joke to Clinton “misrepresent both the purpose and the tone of the original correspondence”.

His clarification, however, only shut down one theory while leaving plenty of room for continued guessing. Mark Epstein did not identify who “Bubba” actually referred to, allowing speculation to continue circulating online without any definitive answer.

Public Reaction Fuels Ongoing Questions About Epstein’s Network

Even with Mark Epstein’s statement, the conversation has hardly slowed. The release of the emails has become a major online talking point, reigniting interest in the wider network of powerful individuals who crossed paths with Jeffrey Epstein. The bizarre exchange about “Bubba” added fuel to the fire, becoming one of the most widely discussed elements of the newly-released documents.

Some users treated the exchange as nothing more than a private joke between siblings, while others viewed it as potentially significant in understanding Epstein’s connections and the rumors surrounding his influence. With Mark Epstein declining to clarify the identity behind the nickname, the mystery remains unsolved.

As more material from the Epstein archives continues to emerge, online speculation shows no sign of slowing down, and the question of who “Bubba” truly is remains as open (and as intriguing) as ever.

Featured image credit: Patrick McMullan / Getty Images.