Jimmy Kimmel took aim at Rudy Giuliani in a monologue last week, joking that the former New York City mayor had “risen from the grave” to criticize him—just days before Giuliani was hospitalized in critical condition.
The late-night host made the remark during Tuesday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, responding to comments Giuliani made on his podcast. “So last night, America’s mayor, Rudy Giuliani, rose from the grave to weigh in on the ongoing drama involving me,” Kimmel said, setting up the back-and-forth.
The “drama” stems in part from controversy around Kimmel’s recent jokes, including one about first lady Melania Trump that drew backlash. During a mock version of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Kimmel described her as looking like an “expectant widow,” a line that sparked criticism and calls for consequences.
On his podcast, Giuliani didn’t hold back. He called Kimmel “one of the most distasteful human beings in this country” and mocked his career, questioning his past hosting of the Correspondents’ Dinner and suggesting his shows draw little audience.
Kimmel responded in kind, leaning into the insult. “It hurts to be called distasteful by a man who farted his own pants off in front of Borat’s daughter,” he said, referencing a widely circulated scene involving Giuliani. He continued with a string of jabs, bringing up the former mayor’s infamous press conference outside Four Seasons Total Landscaping—located next to an adult store—and a separate incident in which Giuliani appeared unaware he was still being recorded.
Last week, Jimmy Kimmel made a joke about Rudy Giuliani’s health saying he “rose from the grave”.
Tonight, Rudy is in the hospital in critical condition.
Are all of Kimmel’s “jokes” about death? pic.twitter.com/80rQbOusCn
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) May 4, 2026
“At some point,” Kimmel added, “you start to wonder if anyone close to him is stepping in.”
The exchange played out as part of a broader stretch of criticism directed at Kimmel over his recent material. After he repeated the Melania Trump joke on Monday’s show, a spokesperson for the former first lady renewed calls for his dismissal, arguing that the comment crossed a line given the timing and context.
Just five days after Kimmel’s monologue aired, Giuliani was admitted to the hospital. A spokesperson said Sunday that the 81-year-old was in critical but stable condition, though no specific details about his illness were shared.
In a statement, the spokesperson described Giuliani as “a fighter” who has handled past challenges with determination and said he is bringing that same resilience to his current situation. They also asked the public to keep him in their prayers.
