Jay Leno Admits Regret Over Jimmy Kimmel Incident: 'I Made A Mistake'

Dan Lalonde
Apr 27
1 min read

Jay Leno is opening up about one of the more painful moments of his career — letting Jimmy Kimmel roast him on his own show.

In a recent episode of In Depth With Graham Bensinger, Leno reflected on Kimmel’s 2010 appearance on The Tonight Show. During the segment, Kimmel mocked Leno's controversial decision to reclaim The Tonight Show after initially handing it over to Conan O'Brien. Kimmel quipped about giving someone a show, only to "take it back almost instantly," delivering a public jab that resonated for years.

"When Kimmel came on and humiliated me on my own show, I let it happen. I didn’t edit it," Leno admitted. "It was my mistake. I trusted somebody."

Despite the awkwardness, Leno said he allowed the footage to air because it was real. "That’s how you learn," he added, though he acknowledged the event fueled lasting tensions. "It’s not good TV for me because it started a whole thing that continues to this day."

While some might argue it created unforgettable television, Leno has struggled to find the silver lining. Still, he holds no lingering resentment, noting, "He’s a comic — you do what you gotta do."

Fortunately, time has healed old wounds. In 2017, Kimmel shared that he and Leno had made peace, especially after Leno reached out with kindness following Kimmel’s son's heart surgery. "You can't argue with [Leno’s] success and his longevity," Kimmel later said.

Though regret lingers for Leno, their repaired relationship shows that even in Hollywood, bridges can be rebuilt.