Jimmy Kimmel Apologizes for Past Impressions Using Blackface, Like Karl Malone

Jimmy Kimmel‘s issued a delayed apology for his infamous Karl Malone impression — along with others — in which he used blackface and insensitive racial language … calling them “embarrassing” and “thoughtless moments.”

The late-night talk show host has come under fire recently for his past sketches — specifically, one in which he wore blackface and a bald cap to portray the former NBA star.

Kimmel says … “I have long been reluctant to address this, as I knew doing so would be celebrated as a victory by those who equate apologies with weakness and cheer for leaders who use prejudice to divide us. That delay was a mistake.”

He’s now apologizing to those he hurt or offended by “the makeup I wore or the words I spoke.”

Kimmel goes on to explain he began doing his Malone impression for LA’s KROQ radio in the mid-90s, and it continued on TV on “The Man Show.” He says … “I never considered that this might be seen as anything other than an imitation of a fellow human being,” and that he’s done impressions of several celebs, including Snoop Dogg and Oprah.

He says … “In each case, I thought of them as impersonations of celebrities and nothing more. Looking back, many of these sketches are embarrassing, and it is frustrating that these thoughtless moments have become a weapon used by some to diminish my criticisms of social and other injustices.”

Kimmel says he believes he’s evolved and matured over the past 20-plus years and he’s going to continue speaking out, adding … “I won’t be bullied into silence by those who feign outrage to advance their oppressive and genuinely racist agendas.”

He concludes by saying his current summer vacation has been planned for more than a year and is not related to his current racism controversy.

As we reported … Kimmel’s backlash comes shortly after another late-night host, Jimmy Fallon, faced his own backlash for a blackface sketch he did in 2000, in which he played Chris Rock.

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