Rosie O'Donnell described her relationship with Jimmy Kimmel as "adversarial," noting that they have never spoken directly to each other, as she prepares to guest host his late-night show this week. Kimmel is currently on a two-month hiatus, and O'Donnell is among the rotating hosts stepping in for him.
O'Donnell, 64, told Variety that Kimmel's invitation to guest host came as a surprise and "out of the blue." She recalled that despite being at the same events occasionally, she would only speak with Kimmel's wife, Molly McNearney. "Jimmy was never a fan of mine," O'Donnell stated, characterizing their dynamic as an "adversarial relationship" where she felt he was part of a "bro" comedian circle.
Despite the perceived tension, O'Donnell accepted the guest hosting offer, which she stated was a "surprise" and for which she was "very thankful." Kimmel had previously referred to O'Donnell's involvement as a "special treat" for Donald Trump, referencing Trump's long-standing feud with the comedian.
O'Donnell also indicated that she accepted the role to support fellow late-night hosts and to speak out against what she perceives as a "war on TV comedy" from the current administration. She referenced Kimmel's brief removal from ABC in September 2025 following backlash over his monologue about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, stating, "I support [Jimmy] in what he's doing with the First Amendment." She also expressed solidarity with Stephen Colbert, whose show ended in May, suggesting it was a move by CBS to appease Trump.
O'Donnell also commented on broader media industry shifts, criticizing the potential takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount CEO David Ellison. She likened the scenario to Fox News becoming the dominant news outlet and expressed concern over what she described as a "conservative makeover" of CBS News and 60 Minutes, specifically mentioning Bari Weiss, the succeeding editor-in-chief of CBS News.
Regarding her upcoming guest hosting appearance, O'Donnell offered a preview of her perspective, stating, "If you're in a room with 10 Nazis at a table and you're the only one who's not, there's a pretty good chance you're a Nazi."