Leno says he gets 'beat up' rhetorically for refusing to go political, but refuses to alienate Trump audiences
Jay Leno said in an interview released last Wednesday that he continues to face criticism for avoiding partisan comedy, telling the "Unexpired" podcast that performing for politically mixed audiences–including Trump supporters in states like Indiana–means his priority remains getting laughs rather than delivering political commentary.Leno, who hosted NBC’s "The Tonight Show" for more than two decades, explained why he believes comedians working outside the late-night television environment have to account for audiences with a range of political views."I get beat up for this all the time, but as someone who works in the real world, when you go to Indiana, I'm sorry, a third of your audience is going to be Trump people," Leno said.Jay Leno said he got "beat up" for avoiding partisan comedy and argued his job was to get laughs without alienating Trump-supporting audiences.(Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)CRAIG FERGUSON REVEALS WHY TRUMP JOKES ARE MISSING FROM HIS NEW COMEDY TOURChristian Toto, an entertainment journalist, film critic and founder of Hollywood in Toto, told Fox News Digital Wednesday that Leno's approach reflects what he sees as a divide between touring stand-ups and television hosts who have cultivated more politically defined audiences.
Toto founded Hollywood in Toto in 2014 and covers entertainment and culture."Late-night hosts don't care who they alienate in 2026.They've chosen an audience.
Period.Jimmy Kimmel infamously said of his Republican fans, ‘not good riddance,' but riddance.
That says it all," Toto said.Leno told host Kim Alexis that his objective onstage remains entertainment, recalling that he and former "Tonight Show" host Johnny Carson deliberately tried to spread political jokes across party lines rather than consistently targeting one side."I mean, Johnny and I used to pride ourselves on making fun of both sides equally.Now I get beaten up for that.
But OK, that's all right," L...