Jimmy Kimmel is reported to be emotionally overwhelmed after the loss of his fast friend and longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo.
For those who don’t know, Escobedo died on November 11, 2025 at the age of 59 due to cardiogenic shock, “due to complications following a liver transplant.”
Other factors that contributed to his death were alcoholic cirrhosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation, according to Wikipedia.
This is what an insider close to the 58-year-old American television presenter and comedian says Radaronline that he is under great emotional pressure, which could have consequences for him.
The source said: “Jimmy has gone into a spiral. He’s known Cleto since he was just a kid and he never expected him to be gone so quickly.”
“It makes Jimmy face his own mortality and question everything. He’s in a very dark place,” they stated.
Notably, Kimmel lost Escobedo less than two months after ABC suspended his show for a week over his comments on the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
“Jimmy is back on the air, so a lot of people assume he’s over this and feels like a champion, but that’s not the case. He’s feeling very defeated,” the insider said. “He’s used to people not liking him, but the hatred was greater than he ever expected. He received death threats. No one should have to put up with that.”
The source further warned, “Jimmy is tired, he’s grieving and he’s completely burned out. Just by looking at him, you can tell he’s barely holding it together.”
“People in his life are begging him to step back from the show before the job eats him alive. They’re terrified that if he doesn’t make a change soon, the stress will destroy him. He’s never been so down,” the insider concluded.
