Jimmy Kimmel issues statement over use of blackface and racial slurs in comedy skits

US talk show host suggested historic clips had been used by individuals with ‘genuinely racist agendas’

Jimmy Kimmel has issued a statement over his use of blackface and racist slurs in old comedy skits, while arguing that some critics had sought to “weaponise” the skits to harm his career.

Kimmel has faced criticism in recent days over unearthed skits in which he uses the n-word and wears blackface while impersonating figures including Snoop Dogg and Oprah Winfrey. In a statement, Kimmel said he should have addressed the controversy earlier, and attempted to explain the context in which the skits occurred.

“I have long been reluctant to address this, as I knew doing so would be celebrated as a victory by those who equate apologies with weakness and cheer for leaders who use prejudice to divide us,” Kimmel said. “That delay was a mistake. There is nothing more important to me than your respect, and I apologise to those who were genuinely hurt or offended by the makeup I wore or the words I spoke.”

He went on to explain that he regularly impersonated celebrities while working for the US radio station KROQ in the 1990s, in particular the basketball player Karl Malone.

“I never considered that this might be seen as anything other than an imitation of a fellow human being, one that had no more to do with Karl’s skin colour than it did his bulging muscles and bald head,” Kimmel said. He also suggested that the clips had been unearthed in bad faith.

He said: “Looking back, many of these sketches are embarrassing, and it is frustrating that these thoughtless moments have become a weapon used by some to diminish my criticisms of social and other injustices.”

“I believe that I have evolved and matured over the last 20-plus years, and I hope that is evident to anyone who watches my show,” Kimmel continued. “I know that this will not be the last I hear of this and that it will be used again to try to quiet me. I love this country too much to allow that. I won’t be bullied into silence by those who feign outrage to advance their oppressive and genuinely racist agendas.”

Kimmel also used the statement to confirm that his decision to step down from his talk show for the summer was not made in relation to the unearthed skits.

“My summer vacation has been planned for more than a year and includes the next two summers off as well,” Kimmel said. “I will be back to work in September.”

Donald Trump Jr has been particularly vocal about the skits, suggesting that Kimmel’s talk show should be dropped by US broadcaster ABC as a result.

“I’m 100% against punishing comedians for jokes, even bad jokes from unfunny hack comedians like Jimmy Kimmel,” Trump Jr tweeted. “But according to the left’s own woke rules that @jimmykimmel wants to force others to live by, it’s hard to see how @ABCNetwork allows him to keep his show.”