BREAKING: Jimmy Kimmel Becomes a Grandfather at 57 as Daughter Katie Welcomes Baby Patti Joan, Sharing the Joy on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Amid a Packed News Day

Jimmy Kimmel Becomes a Grandfather: A Heartwarming Milestone Met with Mixed Reactions Amid a Tense Global News Cycle

May 21, 2025 – On a day marked by significant global developments, late-night television icon Jimmy Kimmel shared a deeply personal milestone with his audience: he is now a grandfather. The 57-year-old host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! announced that his daughter, Katie Kimmel, welcomed her first child—a baby girl named Patti Joan—with her husband, Will Logsdon, on May 20, 2025. However, the heartwarming news, shared via an ABC News post on X at 15:45 UTC, sparked a polarized reaction online, with some users celebrating the moment and others dismissing it as irrelevant amid pressing global concerns, such as Iran’s rejection of a nuclear enrichment compromise earlier that day.

A Personal Milestone for a Late-Night Legend

Kimmel, who has been a fixture of late-night television since Jimmy Kimmel Live! premiered on ABC in 2003, revealed the news during his monologue on the May 20 episode of his show. He explained his absence from the previous night’s broadcast, stating, “We were supposed to have a show last night, but we didn’t because my daughter had a baby last night.” The newborn’s name, Patti Joan, holds special significance for Kimmel: “Patti” is a playful nod to “the melt, but with an ‘I’ not a ‘Y,’” while “Joan” honors Kimmel’s mother, as detailed in a People article covering the announcement.

Katie Kimmel, 33, is the eldest of Kimmel’s four children. He shares Katie and son Kevin, 31, with his ex-wife Gina Maddy, and has two younger children, Billy, 8, and Jane, 10, with his current wife, Molly McNearney. Kimmel’s announcement came with his signature blend of humor and heart, a hallmark of his career that has seen him host the Primetime Emmy Awards three times (2012, 2016, and 2020) and launch projects like the 2019 children’s book The Serious Goose. Just a week prior, on May 13, Kimmel had hinted at the impending arrival during the Disney Upfront, joking about selling the naming rights to his grandchild—a bit that echoed the irreverent humor he’s known for, as reported by TheWrap.

Kimmel also expressed genuine affection for his son-in-law, Will Logsdon, during the announcement. “People ask, ‘How’s the guy?’ And I’ll tell you, the guy is great,” Kimmel shared, adding with a chuckle, “And if he wasn’t, he’d be dead right now.” The moment offered a rare glimpse into Kimmel’s personal life, which often takes a backseat to his on-air persona as a comedian, writer, and producer who has tackled everything from political satire to roasts, such as the Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson.

A Polarized Response on X

While Kimmel’s announcement was met with warmth from his studio audience and fans who value his personal anecdotes, the reaction on X told a different story. The ABC News post sharing the news quickly garnered a slew of replies, many of which were dismissive or outright hostile. Users like @JoeyAlvy wrote, “Who gives a fuck about this washed out piece of shit,” while @Labs14Gs posted a meme featuring Donald Trump with the caption “Nobody cares.” Another user, @iceman24_7, shared an image from HBO with the text “NOBODY GIVES A F*CK,” encapsulating the sentiment of a vocal subset of X users who found the news trivial.

Other replies were more pointed in their criticism. @DEMOCRAT MEN HAVE HIV/AIDS made a shocking reference to Jeffrey Epstein, alleging Kimmel’s involvement in nefarious activities—a baseless claim that reflects the kind of inflammatory rhetoric often seen on social media. Meanwhile, @SethHenrySeth questioned the news value of the announcement, asking, “Why is this news??” The backlash highlighted a growing sentiment among some X users that celebrity personal milestones