Jimmy Kimmel said Tucker Carlson is the 'media equivalent' to the Sackler family: 'He's knowingly producing this deadly opioid of lies'

• Jimmy Kimmel slammed Tucker Carlson in a New York Times podcast on Thursday.
• He said Carlson is "the media equivalent" of the Sackler family with the opioid epidemic.

Late night host Jimmy Kimmel slammed Fox News host Tucker Carlson on an episode of New York Times podcast "Sway" discussing cancel culture and GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Kimmel said the controversial right-wing news host reminded him of the "media version of the Sackler family," adding that he should not be silenced.

The Sackler family owns Purdue Pharma, a company that sold the addictive painkiller OxyContin, which "sparked the opioid crisis," The Guardian reported in 2018.

"He's knowingly producing this deadly opioid of lies that has a devastating effect on the country, but he's OK with it, because it's making him rich," Kimmel said, adding that his main job is "primarily speaking to senior citizens like they're kindergarteners and scaring them with garbage."

Kimmel added he believes Carlson may not even believe the words he says on his show, "Tucker Carlson Tonight."

However, the comedian insisted that Carlson shouldn't be canceled.

"But I don't think it's a good idea to shut people up, because I want to know where people are coming from," Kimmel said. "I want to know what they think. I want to know if they have horrible thoughts. I want to hear them. I want to hear their confessions."

Representatives for FOX News Media and ABC, which airs "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.