Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Critiques Late-Night Comedy in Viral Satire

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. commended a viral satirical thread on social media that targeted Stephen Colbert and exposed the challenges facing liberal comedy today. Kennedy used this thread to critique Jimmy Kimmel as the era of ‘The Late Show’ concludes. He views the post as an insight into why Kimmel has faced criticism from conservatives for remarks about his role as a comedian.

Kennedy described the thread as a detailed examination of the surprising decline of liberal comedy. He commented, ‘This is the best explanation of how we have reached a point where Late Night host Jimmy Kimmel can say ‘It’s not my job to be funny.’ The author illustrates how Kimmel was hired as a comedian but changed his approach to that of a moral guide.’

The thread Kennedy highlighted was a satirical essay by Peter Girnus, who framed the piece as if he were a fictional ‘Senior Vice President of Late Night Strategy at CBS.’ The satire focuses on Colbert’s transformation from his Comedy Central character to his current late-show role.

Girnus emphasized how the shift involved presenting Colbert not as a character but as himself, which led to a more serious and instructive style. He stated, ‘We killed the character and put the real man on stage. The real man was a lecturer. Earnest. Thoughtful. Correct about everything. Correct is not funny.’

Following Kennedy’s comments, Girnus expanded on the cultural critique, claiming the issue extended beyond individual hosts to encompass a broader comedic culture that discourages jokes contradicting liberal norms.

RFK Jr. joined in conservative criticism of Jimmy Kimmel and late-night television, referencing the satirical post that claimed comedians have shifted from being entertainers to acting as political guides.

The debate intensified after Kimmel defended his political views on ‘IMO,’ hosted by Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. Kimmel reacted against the notion that his sole task is to entertain, as Fox News Digital reported. ‘Don’t tell me what my job is,’ Kimmel said. ‘My job is whatever I decide my job is or whatever my employer allows me to do.’ He expressed the joy he gets from making the audience laugh.

The viral satirical essay about Colbert, comedy, and political alignment spurred online discussions after Kennedy Jr. described it as the finest explanation for the downturn of liberal comedy.

Girnus framed this development as evidence that late-night comedy had become a vetting system for liberal audiences rather than a source of spontaneous entertainment. ‘An echo chamber cannot produce comedy,’ Girnus asserted. ‘Comedy is the act of saying what the room does not expect. An echo chamber is a room that punishes the unexpected.’

Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel’s interaction on The Late Show highlighted these themes on September 30, 2025, in New York. Earlier, CBS announced the impending conclusion of ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ in May 2026, attributing the decision purely to financial challenges rather than content or performance issues at Paramount.

Fox News Digital sought comments from ABC but received no immediate response.

CJ Womack, an associate editor at Fox News Digital, underscored journalism’s crucial role in shaping politics and culture. With extensive experience in media analysis, CJ joined Fox News Digital’s team in 2026 after graduating from Long Beach State University in 2025, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Journalism.