Referring to the recent passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, he joked to the audience, “Mitch McConnell is alive. Lindsey Graham is dead. There’s so many opportunities to get Jimmy’s show pulled off the air again. They’re gonna pull it off!”
The audience laughed as Barinholtz acknowledged the previous controversy surrounding Kimmel’s program, openly suggesting that his own comments could once again create problems for ABC.
The comedian then continued with an extended bit involving longtime sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez.
“Guillermo, I know you and him were close friends,” Barinholtz joked. “You hosted fundraisers for him at the Dave & Busters in Charleston. And I know you’ve prepared some heartfelt remarks. Do you want to share them with all of America right now?”
Rodriguez repeatedly declined to participate as Barinholtz continued treating the exchange like a mock funeral segment.
For many conservatives watching, the performance crossed a line by turning the death of a sitting U.S. senator into the evening’s comedy material.
Before turning to Graham, Barinholtz also directed jokes toward Senator Mitch McConnell, who recently spent weeks hospitalized before releasing a public statement confirming he had not suffered a stroke, heart attack, or broken bones.
Despite those updates, Barinholtz remarked:
“In all seriousness, though, I do want to extend well-wishes to Senator McConnell. I hope you get the quality healthcare you’ve fought so hard to deny everyone else.”
While framed as political satire, critics argued that joking about the health of a hospitalized senator demonstrated the increasingly personal nature of modern late-night comedy.
For conservatives, it represented another example of entertainment figures using serious health situations as opportunities for partisan commentary.
The new incident inevitably drew comparisons to last year’s controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel himself.
Following Kimmel’s jokes involving Charlie Kirk’s death, criticism quickly escalated after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr publicly condemned the comments, calling them “truly sick.” The controversy intensified as major television affiliate groups reportedly pulled the program before Kimmel eventually returned with an emotional on-air apology.
During that apology, Kimmel insisted he never intended to make light of anyone’s death.
Barinholtz’s comments, however, appeared to reference that entire episode directly, joking that ABC could once again find itself dealing with the same fallout.
To critics, the fact that the previous controversy became part of the punchline suggested the lessons from that episode had not been taken seriously.
Supporters of Senator Graham argue that reducing his life and career to late-night comedy ignores decades of public service.
Graham served for years in the United States Senate after previously serving as an Air Force officer and Judge Advocate General (JAG). Throughout his political career, he became one of Congress’ most recognizable voices on national security and military affairs.
He also emerged as one of President Donald Trump’s strongest allies during recent years despite earlier political disagreements.
According to reports, Graham had remained active in public life until his death and was scheduled for national television appearances shortly afterward.
Many conservatives argue that regardless of political disagreements, public officials deserve a measure of respect following their passing.
The controversy also reignited broader criticism that late-night television has shifted away from entertainment and increasingly functions as a platform for one-sided political messaging.
Conservative commentators have long argued that Republican politicians frequently become targets of personal attacks while Democratic figures rarely receive similar treatment.
Barinholtz’s routine is now being cited as another example of that perceived double standard.
By openly joking about ABC potentially facing consequences before delivering the material anyway, critics argue the performance appeared less like spontaneous comedy and more like a deliberate political statement designed to provoke controversy.
Whether ABC responds publicly remains to be seen.
But for many conservative viewers, the latest episode raises familiar questions about consistency, accountability, and whether standards surrounding political humor are applied equally depending on who becomes the target.
