Tony Hinchcliffe Blacklisted by Jimmy Kimmel’s Aunt After On-Stage Rant

Tony Hinchcliffe Got Blacklisted by Jimmy Kimmel’s Aunt After Late-Night Comedy Store Set

During his appearance on Story Warz, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe told a story about getting blacklisted early in his career—by none other than Jimmy Kimmel’s aunt.

Hinchcliffe recalled doing a late-night set at The Comedy Store, a time when he says emotions were high and the crowd was thinning. In a moment of frustration, he lashed out at an audience member without knowing who she was. That person turned out to be Jimmy Kimmel’s aunt, a longtime fan of Comedy Store regular Don Barris—who works with Kimmel on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

The next morning, Hinchcliffe says the fallout hit immediately. “Everybody I knew in the industry started getting this crazy email saying they should never work with me again,” he said. “It was the only paying gig I had at the time.”

Tony admitted he unknowingly called her a name during the rant and learned quickly that in Hollywood, even unplanned moments can have long-term consequences.

It’s a wild story of how one late-night set nearly derailed his entire career.