Comedian and chat show host Jay Leno has sparked a divide online after he claimed that political late-night hosts can sometimes be guilty of alienating audiences.
The 75-year-old former The Tonight Show host has criticized chat show hosts who ‘cosy up too much to one side’.
His comments have emerged after Stephen Colbert's long-standing talk show, the Late Show, was axed, with the reasoning being cited as a 'financial decision'.
However, it came just days after Colbert, 62, had spoken out against Paramount's decision to pay President Trump $16 million (£12m) to settle a lawsuit over its 60 Minutes programme, describing the payment as a 'big fat bribe’.
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This of course led some people to believe that it was a politically motivated act due to the host’s public dislike of Trump.
Fellow host Jimmy Kimmel also backed Colbert up, clapping back after Trump posted a brutal message on Truth Social saying he 'absolutely love[s] that Colbert got fired' and that Kimmel 'is next.'
In response, Kimmel wrote "I’m hearing you’re next. Or maybe it’s just another wonderful secret."
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And now, Leno’s comments have added a whole new viewpoint to the argument, although it’s unclear whether he gave the interview before or after Colbert’s firing.
In an interview with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, which was uploaded to YouTube yesterday (28 July), he gave his thoughts on the mixing of politics and jokes.
He explained: “I like to think that people come to a comedy show to get away from the pressures of life.
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“I love political humour – don’t get me wrong. But people wind up cosying too much to one side or the other.”
The American comedian continued: “I don’t think anybody wants to hear a lecture. Why shoot for just half an audience? Why not try to get the whole? I like to bring people into the big picture.
“I don’t understand why you would alienate one particular group – or just don’t do it at all. I’m not saying you have to throw your support [on one side]. But just do what’s funny.”
He also talked about how he got ‘hate letters’ from both Democrats and Republicans about the same jokes.
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"I got hate letters saying, 'You and your Republican friends,' and another saying, ‘I hope you and your Democratic buddies are happy,' over the same joke,” he revealed.
Adding: “That’s how you get a whole audience. Now, you have to be content with half the audience, because you have to give your opinion.”
As Leno's comments make their way around social media, some people have admitted they are not too impressed with his stance.
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One Twitter user wrote: “We stand with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon,” while a second added: “Politics affect literally everyone but okay”.
A third chimed in with: "That's one way of admitting you're a Republican.”
Others wrote: “Why is he lecturing us?” and “Couldn’t be a worse time to ignore politics for millions of people rn”.
Another joked: “That’s an interesting way to alienate an audience lol” while someone else added: “‘alienate people’ and it’s the host calling for basic decency on issues… that’s ‘alienating’ people? Lol”.
“Saying "stay out of politics" is such a politically privileged position,” agreed someone else.
Topics: Social Media, TV And Film, Politics, Donald Trump
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Madison Burgess