Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel opened his show Monday night with an emotional reflection on the devastating wildfires ravaging Los Angeles, describing it as “a very scary, very stressful, very strange week” for the city he calls home.
During his monologue, Kimmel fought back tears as he spoke about the proximity of the fires to their Hollywood Boulevard set. “Many of us had to leave our homes in a hurry. Some of our co-workers lost their homes. It’s been terrible,” he shared.
Kimmel noted the fires’ impact on the community: “Everyone who lives in this city knows someone—most of us, multiple people—family, friends, colleagues, neighbors whose houses have burned down. And the truth is, we don’t even know if it’s over. We had 100 mph winds fueling this nightmare, and as of tonight, the winds are back.”
While acknowledging the immense challenges, Kimmel also found hope in the collective response: “It’s been a sickening, shocking, awful experience, but it’s also been, in a lot of ways, a beautiful experience. Once again, we see our fellow men and women coming together to support each other—people who lost their own homes are out volunteering in parking lots for others who lost theirs.”
Kimmel reserved sharp criticism for President-elect Donald Trump, who has faced backlash for his comments during the ongoing crisis. As of Monday, the wildfires had claimed at least 24 lives, with the Palisades Fire only 14% contained and the Eaton Fire 33% contained.
“Tonight, I don’t want to get into all the vile, irresponsible, and stupid things our future president and his gaggle of scumbags chose to say during our darkest and most terrifying hour,” Kimmel said. He added, “The fact that he chose to attack our firefighters, who are out there risking their lives on our behalf, is disgusting but not surprising. Instead, I want to focus on thanking those men and women, because that’s all we should be doing.”
The host expressed gratitude to first responders, doctors, and firefighters from across the U.S., as well as those who traveled from Mexico and Canada to assist. Kimmel also praised local news reporters and actor Steve Guttenberg, who has been actively helping evacuees and those who lost their homes.
Calling Guttenberg a “national treasure,” Kimmel closed by emphasizing the importance of community and resilience in the face of such devastation.