Ari Melber says Trump’s attempts to censor Jimmy Kimmel backfired, after the late-night comedian returned to ABC with record-breaking ratings.
Donald Trump “lost this round” — that is Ari Melber’s assessment after Jimmy Kimmel’s record-breaking return to ABC. On Wednesday’s “The Beat,” Melber called the episode a “ratings bonanza,” noting 6 million viewers tuned in to watch Tuesday’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” On social media, the comedian’s opening monologue had racked up more than 26 million views as of Thursday morning.
Melber said the ratings show the Trump administration’s attempt to squash criticism from the late-night host backfired — in spectacular fashion. “When you try to suppress something, you sometimes draw more attention to it,” he said.
“The Beat” host referenced a popular nickname for this phenomenon: the Streisand Effect. The term was coined in 2005, after Barbra Streisand tried to suppress a single picture of her home in California.
