BB.Late-Night Trio Break Their Silence: Kimmel, Colbert, and Meyers Defend Lia Thomas Against Public Backlash”
Los Angeles, CA — The culture wars reached late-night television this week as three of America’s biggest talk show hosts — Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers — reportedly stepped forward to defend transgender swimmer Lia Thomas amid a growing storm of backlash over her eligibility to compete in women’s events.
Social media erupted after a wave of female athletes, including Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan, expressed frustration at what they called “an unfair playing field.” Within hours, hashtags like #SaveWomensSports and #StandWithLia were trending side by side, reflecting a deeply divided nation.
A source close to one of the shows told The Hollywood Ledger, “The guys felt the conversation had become toxic. They wanted to remind people that Lia is a person first, not a headline. Each of them made it clear — compassion shouldn’t be political.”
During his Tuesday monologue, Kimmel reportedly said, “If you think a swimmer ruins women’s sports but billion-dollar corporations don’t, maybe check your priorities.” Colbert echoed the sentiment, joking that “America can handle a little competition — even in the pool.” Meyers went further, calling the backlash “performative outrage that says more about politics than fairness.”
Critics, however, blasted the trio for “mocking female athletes” and “taking the Hollywood side of every debate.” One viral post on X (formerly Twitter) fumed: “Of course the late-night elites defend her — they don’t live in the real world of sports.”
The late-night moment underscores how Lia Thomas has become a symbol far beyond swimming — sparking a national debate that now runs through politics, entertainment, and identity itself. As one media analyst put it, “This isn’t just about one athlete anymore. It’s about what kind of culture America wants to be.”
In a Hollywood still split over gender and inclusion, even laughter has become a battleground.
