Jay Leno Reflects on Past Feud with Jimmy Kimmel: “He Humiliated Me, and I Let It Happen”

In a surprising and candid interview, television icon Jay Leno opened up about his long-standing tensions with fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, describing a period of professional and personal discomfort that has resurfaced in public discourse over the last week. Leno, who helmed NBC’s The Tonight Show for over two decades, expressed regret over how he handled his feud with Kimmel, particularly during the chaotic period surrounding Conan O’Brien’s short-lived tenure as his successor.

The revelation has sparked renewed conversations about late-night politics, media rivalries, and the emotional toll that public careers can exact—even among comedic giants.

“I Let It Happen”: Leno’s Surprising Confession

During a recent panel at a television history retrospective event, Jay Leno was asked to reflect on moments he wishes he had handled differently. To the audience’s surprise, he directly addressed his turbulent interactions with Jimmy Kimmel, specifically citing a segment during the Tonight Show’s late-night reshuffle in 2010 as a moment that left him feeling “humiliated.”

“Kimmel was brutal to me on my own show,” Leno said, referring to the now-infamous 2010 appearance when Kimmel, as a guest on Leno’s primetime version of The Tonight Show, mocked him on-air for reclaiming the 11:35 p.m. slot from Conan O’Brien. “I allowed it because I didn’t want to make it worse, but I walked away feeling foolish.”

This moment, once brushed aside as late-night hijinks, now appears to have left deeper scars than previously thought.

Revisiting the 2010 Tonight Show Debacle

To understand the context, it’s necessary to rewind to 2009–2010, one of the most contentious eras in late-night television. After stepping down from The Tonight Show in 2009 and handing the reins to Conan O’Brien, Leno was given a new primetime show at 10 p.m. Ratings faltered for both programs, leading NBC to make a controversial decision: move Leno back to 11:35 p.m., effectively pushing O’Brien’s Tonight Show to 12:05 a.m.

Conan O’Brien refused, leading to his departure from NBC. The public largely sided with O’Brien, and Kimmel, among others, became one of Leno’s most vocal critics.

Kimmel didn’t just criticize Leno behind the scenes—he took the fight public. Appearing on Leno’s show, he impersonated him mercilessly, accused him of stealing the show back, and mocked his legacy to his face. While Leno laughed it off at the time, he now reveals that it stung far more than he let on.

Kimmel’s Take: No Regrets

In the years following the incident, Jimmy Kimmel has made no secret of his disdain for how the Tonight Show saga unfolded. He has often cited Leno’s actions as emblematic of showbiz backstabbing.

“I always respected Jay as a comic,” Kimmel once told Rolling Stone. “But what he did to Conan was wrong. It deserved to be called out.”

Kimmel, who now hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC, has remained unapologetic about his role in the feud. And while Leno has previously tried to stay diplomatic, his recent comments suggest a more vulnerable side—one that still wrestles with how it all played out.

The Burden of Public Shame

Leno’s admission is especially notable for its emotional candor. In an industry where reputations are carefully curated and egos run high, it’s rare to hear a legendary figure openly admit to feeling publicly humiliated—especially by a younger peer.

“I didn’t stand up for myself. I thought if I just smiled and played along, it would go away,” Leno said. “But I underestimated how much those moments can define how people see you—even years later.”

While Leno has largely remained respected for his tenure and work ethic, the Tonight Show transition has lingered like a shadow over his legacy. Some fans viewed him as a network pawn, others as the instigator who undermined O’Brien’s brief tenure. His recent comments reflect a desire to reclaim some narrative agency, even if belatedly.

Late-Night Legacy: Is Forgiveness Possible?

As Leno’s remarks spread through social media and entertainment news outlets, the broader late-night community has offered mixed reactions. Some commentators see it as a necessary moment of introspection, while others believe it reopens wounds that are best left healed.

“Jay Leno has nothing to prove at this point,” said TV historian Robert Thompson. “But this shows that even comedic legends are human—they carry these things with them. It’s a reminder that legacy isn’t just about ratings, it’s about relationships.”

The question remains: will this vulnerability open the door to reconciliation? So far, Jimmy Kimmel has not publicly responded to Leno’s latest statements.

A Culture of Competition and Conflict

The Leno-Kimmel feud also underscores a broader issue: the cutthroat nature of late-night television. While it may appear to be all jokes and interviews, the behind-the-scenes dynamics are often as competitive as any high-stakes political campaign. Ratings are king, and time slots are currency. Friendships are sometimes collateral damage.

In recent years, shows like The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Daily Show have attempted to shift the tone, leaning into political satire and social commentary. But the scars of past battles—like the one between Leno and Kimmel—still remind audiences of the genre’s darker undercurrents.

Final Thoughts: Time as the Great Mediator

Jay Leno’s confession doesn’t rewrite history, but it adds a human layer to a saga that was, for many years, reduced to memes and sound bites. It reminds audiences that even public figures are vulnerable to regret, embarrassment, and unresolved tension.

Whether this will prompt a dialogue between Leno and Kimmel remains to be seen. For now, Leno’s words serve as a rare, introspective moment in a genre built on punchlines.

“If I could do it again,” Leno said, “I’d speak up. I’d say, ‘Hey, you’re not just insulting me—you’re tearing down something I gave my life to.’ But I didn’t. I let it happen.”

And that, perhaps, is the most revealing punchline of all.

Timeline of the Feud: Key Moments

• 2009 – Jay Leno hands over The Tonight Show to Conan O’Brien.

• 2010 – NBC reshuffles programming; Leno returns to 11:35 p.m., O’Brien exits.

• 2010 – Jimmy Kimmel mocks Leno live on The Jay Leno Show, sparking a public feud.

• 2014–2020 – Both hosts stay silent on feud; Kimmel occasionally references it in jokes.

• 2025 – Jay Leno admits the feud left him humiliated and emotionally burdened.

Sources:

• Variety, Parade, LoveBScott (via summary and indirect analysis)

• Public archival interviews and coverage of the 2010 Tonight Show transition

• Public statements by Jimmy Kimmel and Jay Leno over the past decade