Jimmy Kimmel has described 2025 as 'a near death experience' as he picked up his second-ever Critics Choice Award

Jimmy Kimmel has described the past year as “a near death experience”.

On Sunday (04.01.26), the 58-year-old TV star won his second-ever Critics Choice Award for Best Talk Show, and after he accepted his honour, Kimmel reflected on the hardships he faced in 2025 - particularly after his show was temporarily suspended following his comments about the death of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.

In the winners room following his victory, Kimmel told the press: “It was almost a near-death experience for me.

“Of course, not literally, but I did feel a little bit like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn watching their own funeral, when all this stuff happened.”

While Jimmy Kimmel Live! has since returned to the air, the chatshow host has continued to face a barrage of attacks from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has consistently called for the programme to be cancelled.

Reflecting on his Critics Choice Award win, Kimmel said: “To be here and to see that people reacted to it in not just a positive way, but in almost a desperate way, we're like, ‘Oh boy, when they come after the comedians, this is when we draw the line.’

“We're very grateful that they drew the line at us.”