Jimmy Kimmel’s Audience Shocked at How Sick He Actually Is: DM Clip Exposes Shocking Comments About “Free Luigi” Movement

In a development that has left many viewers stunned, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is once again under fire—this time for comments made in a leaked direct message clip shared by political commentator Dave Rubin. The clip, reportedly recorded during a behind-the-scenes conversation, captures Kimmel joking about the murder of UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson and making light of the growing “Free Luigi” movement on social media.

According to Rubin, who aired the footage on a recent episode of The Rubin Report, Kimmel casually described how several of his female staff members are “obsessed” with Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering Thompson. Mangione, who was taken into custody earlier this year after a highly publicized standoff with federal agents, has bizarrely become the subject of a viral online campaign calling for his release.

In the clip, Kimmel can allegedly be heard saying, “My staff can’t stop talking about how hot Luigi is. It’s insane. I walk into the writers’ room and it’s just ‘Free Luigi’ this, ‘Luigi’s misunderstood’ that. One of them said he’s like ‘a sexy Patrick Bateman.’ I swear, they’re deranged.”

Rubin responded to the video by calling Kimmel’s attitude “disgusting” and “deeply revealing,” accusing the comedian of normalizing violence and glamorizing murderers. “This isn’t just bad taste—it’s sociopathy masked as humor,” Rubin said. “We’ve gone from late-night satire to something way darker. If this is who Kimmel is off-camera, it’s over for him.”

The public reaction has been swift and divisive. While some of Kimmel’s fans dismiss the remarks as off-color jokes typical of behind-the-scenes banter, others argue that there’s a line that should never be crossed—especially when dealing with real-life murder cases. Critics on X (formerly Twitter) erupted with hashtags like #CancelKimmel and #SickJimmy, demanding accountability and formal apologies.

“This man was laughing about a brutal murder of a corporate leader and father. And now he’s reading staff DMs like they’re teenage crushes?” one user posted. “This isn’t comedy. It’s morally bankrupt.”

Defenders of Kimmel say the clip lacks context and may have been selectively edited. ABC has yet to release an official statement regarding the controversy, but insiders say network executives are “concerned” about the growing backlash. Calls for internal investigation are reportedly being discussed behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, the bizarre “Free Luigi” movement continues to gain traction online. A mixture of satire, irony, and morbid fascination has turned Mangione into an internet antihero for a subset of social media users—something Kimmel appeared to mock, but in a way many felt was too flippant.

Whether or not the leaked clip spells long-term trouble for Jimmy Kimmel remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: a line has been crossed in the world of late-night television, and audiences are no longer laughing.