Rosie O'Donnell has claimed that ABC has prevented her from delivering a planned comedic swipe at Donald Trump during her upcoming guest-hosting stint on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". O'Donnell, who has maintained a two-decade-long feud with the former president, is set to host the late-night show for a week starting August 17, filling in for Jimmy Kimmel during his summer vacation.
O'Donnell alleged in a podcast interview that the network deemed a planned parody song of "If I Only Had a Brain" from "The Wizard of Oz" to be unsuitable due to its political nature. She shared sample lyrics from the proposed bit, which included lines such as, "His approval rate is 30, his diaper’s always dirty, I think the guy’s insane. He ain’t no stable genius, got a teeny, tiny penis, and he doesn’t have a brain."
The original song, "If I Only Had a Brain," was composed by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg and famously performed by Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow in the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz." While the original novel is in the public domain, the rights to the 1939 film are held by Warner Bros.
O'Donnell stated her intention was to emulate Kimmel's approach of addressing political figures in a "comedic, honest, truthful way." Her long-standing animosity towards Trump dates back to 2006 when she criticized him on "The View" for his personal conduct. The feud resurfaced publicly in 2015 when Trump, during a Republican primary debate, responded to a question about his past comments on women by referencing O'Donnell. Her criticism of Trump has continued throughout his political career, reportedly prompting her move to Ireland to avoid living under a potential second presidency.
Kimmel announced his summer hiatus in late June, jokingly selecting O'Donnell as one of his fill-in hosts. Other celebrities scheduled to guest-host include Jelly Roll, Colman Domingo, Anthony Anderson, and Tiffany Haddish.
The decision by ABC to restrict O'Donnell's material comes after "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" faced a brief suspension last September. At that time, the show was temporarily taken off air after Kimmel made comments suggesting a link between the alleged killer of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk and the "MAGA gang." The subsequent investigation into the shooting indicated the accused gunman held leftist views and had allegedly communicated that he shot Kirk due to "hatred."
Following an outcry from the entertainment industry, ABC reinstated Kimmel's show within a week. The accused gunman, Tyler Robinson, is currently on trial in Utah, facing potential execution if convicted. The Daily Mail has contacted ABC and Warner Bros. for comment on the matter.