Jimmy Kimmel and his sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez were spotted moments after ABC yanked the program following backlash to the late-night host’s remarks about Charlie Kirk’s killing.
Kimmel rushed into a black Chevy Silverado outside the El Capitan Entertainment Centre in Los Angeles Wednesday shortly after receiving the news that his show is getting the boot.
The comedian clutched his backpack as his assistant helped him climb into the backseat of the vehicle, according to video footage captured by NBC 4 Los Angeles.
In images obtained by The Post, Rodriguez appeared downcast while standing in the back alley of the studio, where the long-running show is taped.
Rodriguez, who has worked on Kimmel’s show since its inception in 2003, has yet to comment on the axing — which has reportedly left Kimmel “livid.”
Moments after being pictured outside the studio, the 54-year-old was seen driving out of the lot as people gathered to ask questions. It appeared Rodriguez was not in the mood to chit-chat, as he kept his windows rolled up. His car was closely followed by those of other staffers, who were seen leaving the building.
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Rodriguez kick-started his career on the show as a parking lot security guard, before being bumped up to a series regular who appeared in each episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
He was later promoted even further and was given his own segments that featured him drinking with celebrities, interviewing A-listers on the red carpet and attending star-studded award shows.
Kimmel, for his part, was reportedly set to address his remarks during Wednesday night’s show — however, he was notified about its cancellation at the eleventh hour.
The sudden change of plans has reportedly left the comedian, 57, “absolutely f–king livid,” according to insiders, who added that the “pissed” late-night host is meeting with the network.
“This is clearly the government overreaching,” a source told the Daily Mail. “There’s no such thing as free speech in America, if the government can lean on companies to stop any content they don’t like.”
Kimmel rubbed execs the wrong way by saying that the “MAGA gang” was trying to score political points off Kirk’s assassination.
The conservative activist was fatally shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem last Wednesday. Alleged assassin Tyler Robinson, 22, has since been arrested and charged.
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to characterize this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said during his monologue.
Nexstar Media Group, the broadcast company that serves as a primary affiliate for ABC, confirmed that it would “preempt” Kimmel’s show following the remarks.
President Trump cheered ABC’s decision to pull Kimmel’s show, urging NBC to do the same with Jimmy Fallon’s “The Tonight Show” and Seth Meyers’ “Late Night.”
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“Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Kimmel is the second late-night host and comedian to have his show killed following political controversy.
In July, CBS said Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show” would be ending in May 2026 after its next season.
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