Jimmy Kimmel Sympathizes With Billy Bob's Bad Behavior

By Katy Kelleher | April 22, 2009 | 4:30pm

Billy Bob Thorton was on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night to promote his music “career”, and, as anyone could have predicted, the visit kicked off with a discussion of Thornton’s recent Toronto radio-show tantrum.

Also unsurprising: Kimmel was entirely uncritical of Thorton’s behavior earlier this month, when the Oscar-winner went off on a well-meaning Canadian DJ for daring to mention Thornton’s work as an actor and director. Kimmel told Thornton he completely understands his ire, because “it’s rude” to mention a famous actor’s acting career… or have a journalist dare say what he’s “not supposed to say.” Jimmy Kimmel: The Ari Fleischer of the celebrity industrial complex since 2007.