Published on: May 4, 2026, 07:21h.
Updated on: May 4, 2026, 12:39h.
A new viral rumor captures the attention with its alluring mix of celebrity drama, casino secrets, and the captivating scenario where a disgruntled president can disrupt a multimillion-dollar entertainment lineup. However, it lacks any factual basis.
The Facebook group Wake Up America declared, “The MGM Grand in Las Vegas has terminated Jimmy Kimmel’s summer residency after the President and First Lady demanded a complete boycott of the ‘comedian.’” They mentioned, “Kimmel has been a staple at the Grand every summer for eleven years during his show’s break.”
MGM Entertainment Director Joseph Barron allegedly stated, “That contract won’t be extended; Mr. Kimmel will have to search for a different venue for his summer show.”
The Kimmel Fabrication
Let’s dissect this from the top.
- No Jimmy Kimmel residency at MGM Grand for this summer. There never was one this summer or in the past. While Kimmel is a Las Vegas native, his only notable local presence is the comedy venue named after him on the Linq Promenade, which opened in May 2019. He occasionally drops by to host or introduce surprise guests. (Jimmy Kimmel Live! was also recorded at Planet Hollywood and the Rio in 2019.)
- Major casino companies refrain from partisan political positions. They cater to a diverse clientele and aim to avoid alienating any customer group. The concept that MGM Resorts would cancel a performance upon a political figure’s request—especially a president—contradicts how casino operations work on the Strip.
- On April 27, President Trump requested ABC-TV to shut down Kimmel’s talk show. If you’re unaware of the reasons, a quick Google search will clarify. The president did not initiate a “total boycott,” whatever that may mean.
- Ryan Abboushi is the president of entertainment for MGM Resorts International. There is no MGM employee named Joseph Barron, which is a common fictional name found in numerous false reports.
- No one has ever referred to the MGM Grand as “the Grand.”
An Ongoing Adversary
On April 28, a Facebook page called America Loves Liberty—boasting over 733K followers—shared this “satirical” article, earning over 25K likes and more than 3K shares.
However, it is unfair to blame all those individuals for not recognizing the satire, as none existed. America Loves Liberty is tied to an escalating number of disinformation accounts linked to The Dunning-Kruger Times, a relentless wave of misleading content designed for maximum believability without the humor, wit, or cleverness typically associated with The Onion.
Christopher Blair, the mastermind behind The Dunning-Kruger Times, is often dubbed by BBC News as “the godfather of fake news.” He previously propagated falsehoods regarding Gordon Ramsay evicting Taylor Swift from Hell’s Kitchen in 2024 and Caesars Palace canceling Garth Brooks’ 2023 residency following anti-trans protests.
Blair claims his creations serve as a “lesson” for everyone to verify any page’s “About Us” section before sharing its content. Had anyone taken a look at America Loves Liberty’s, they would find this statement: “Nothing on this page is genuine.”
However, most individuals do not check a Facebook page’s “About Us” section for legitimacy—and with good reason: Any page willing to disseminate fake news is likely to distort the truth in its “About Us” section as well.
So, what’s Blair’s defense? His answer to criticism is right there on The Dunning-Kruger Times “About Us” page, which few take the time to read.
“Regarding morality, who cares?” it states. “I own multiple ventures, I’ve developed this over time, and it provides me with a respectable income. If you don’t like it, that’s your issue.”
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