- - Jimmy Kimmel Cries During Final Show of 2025, Says Viewers 'Literally Pulled Us Out of a Hole' amid 'Hard Year'

Julia MooreDecember 19, 2025 at 11:50 PM

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Jimmy Kimmel tears up during his Dec. 18 monologue -

Jimmy Kimmel was in tears almost immediately as he began his final show of 2025

In his monologue on Dec. 18, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host got choked up and teary-eyed as he reflected on the "hard year" he's had both personally and professionally

"We’ve had some lows, we’ve had some highs. For me, maybe more than any year of my life," he said

Jimmy Kimmel was emotional as he signed off from Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the year.

On Thursday, Dec. 18, the host started to cry almost immediately as he began his monologue and reflected on the "strange year" he's had.

“It’s been a hard year. We’ve had some lows, we’ve had some highs. For me, maybe more than any year of my life," he said as his voice began to crack and he apologized. "I’m crying already, I’m sorry."

"On behalf of all of us at the show, I just want to say that we appreciate your support, your enthusiasm, and not just for watching — this year, you literally pulled us out of a hole," he said, referring to the show's six-day suspension in September and its ratings surge following his return. "And we cannot thank you enough personally, professionally."

Jimmy Kimmel tears up during his Dec. 18 monologue

Kimmel, 58, went on to reflect on the wider implications of late-night shows amid such turbulent times.

"When I hear from people who tell me that they watch our show, and the shows that my friends and colleagues do on the other channels, and that it makes them feel less crazy, it makes me feel less crazy too, and I think that's an important thing," he said.

To viewers residing outside the U.S., Kimmel said, "A lot of us are not okay with what is happening. There is still much more good in this country than bad, and we hope that you will bear with us during this extended psychotic episode that we’re in the middle of.”

Aside from the turbulent period his show faced after comments he made about Charlie Kirk's death, Kimmel also experienced a major loss this year. His childhood friend and the show's band leader, Cleto Escobedo, died in November.

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"To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was nine years old," Kimmel wrote in an Instagram post announcing the news on Nov. 11. "The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true."

Escobedo was 59, and Kimmel cried in his monologue on the day of his death as he paid tribute to him, calling it the "hardest" monologue he'd ever had to do.

Randy Holmes/Disney via Getty

Jimmy Kimmel hosts 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'

Kimmel has also faced repeated attacks from President Donald Trump in recent months, including multiple calls for Jimmy Kimmel Live! to be taken "off the air."

In response to his various attacks, the host has poked fun at Trump, 79, including attributing the show's soaring ratings to him.

"He watches us live. Hi, Mr. President. How are you? Thanks for watching us on TV instead of on YouTube. We appreciate that. And I'll tell you, it's viewers like you who keep us on the air, ironically," Kimmel said during a November show after one of Trump's posts to get him off the air.

Early this month, Kimmel signed a one-year extension of his contract with ABC, so Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be back for the 2026-2027 season.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”