Oz Pearlman Drops Out of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ After Shocking Shooting Incident

Oz Pearlman will no longer make his scheduled appearance on Monday night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! Initially slated to be a guest, Pearlman has been replaced in the lineup by Jon Lovett, co-host of Pod Save America, according to updated listings. ABC has not yet commented on this change. The episode will also feature actor Anthony Anderson. This alteration follows a harrowing incident during the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night, where Pearlman was hosting. During his performance, shots were fired when a man, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, allegedly stormed through a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton with multiple weapons. Just moments before the chaos erupted, Pearlman was performing a magic trick for guests, including President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, when he noticed a disturbance and took cover alongside the others at the table. Allen was subdued by law enforcement and has since been charged with attempting to assassinate Trump. In response to the incident, Pearlman expressed his gratitude for everyone’s safety on Instagram, recounting the terrifying moment when he thought a bomb had been detonated. He shared that he was mere feet away from the President as they both ducked for cover, remarking it was one of the scariest moments of his life. The cancellation of Pearlman’s appearance also comes amid renewed criticism of Jimmy Kimmel from Trump and Melania, who have called for the cancellation of