LOS ANGELES — Jay Leno recently reflected on his past tensions with fellow comedian Jimmy Kimmel during an interview on the show “In Depth With Graham Bensinger.” The feud, which began in 2010, arose following Kimmel’s guest appearance on “The Tonight Show” after Leno was reinstated as host. This return came after a contentious transition that saw Conan O’Brien leaving the show amid heavy criticism.
Leno recalled feeling humiliated during Kimmel’s appearance when the late-night host made several jokes at his expense. “I let it happen and didn’t edit it out,” Leno admitted, taking responsibility for trusting Kimmel in that moment. “It was my mistake, but that’s how you learn.”
The original dispute can be traced back to the shifting sands of late-night television. Leno had stepped down in 2009 after a lengthy 17-year run, only to return to the show following a brief tenure by O’Brien that did not meet audience expectations. This abrupt switch drew backlash from fans and critics alike, including sharp jabs from Kimmel.
During their 2010 interview, Kimmel playfully highlighted the irony of Leno’s situation, humorously referencing a prank involving show handovers, which only served to deepen the rift between them. Leno later addressed how the jokes went unchallenged, stating, “It’s real — it happened.” He acknowledged that allowing the moment to unfold contributed to ongoing challenges in his public persona and relations with Kimmel.
Despite their rocky start, Leno and Kimmel eventually mended their relationship. The reconciliation took a significant step forward when Leno reached out to Kimmel in 2017 after Kimmel’s son underwent heart surgery. This gesture, which Kimmel appreciated, played a key role in fostering mutual respect between the two comedians.
Reflecting on the incident with Bensinger, Leno expressed a level of acceptance about the past, noting, “It’s alright. He’s a comic — you do what you gotta do.” Their journey from rivalry to reconciliation demonstrates the complex nature of relationships in the competitive arena of late-night television.
The full interview is available on “In Depth With Graham Bensinger,” where Leno opens up about his experiences in the industry and the lessons learned from his interactions with Kimmel.