Jimmy Kimmel got choked up and nearly cried while talking about the killing of Cecil the Lion

Jimmy Kimmel's emotions got the better of him during Jimmy Kimmel Live Tuesday night. During a segment about the killing of a beloved Zimbabwean lion named Cecil, the comedian got choked up and momentarily had to pause during his routine. It was an uncharacteristic moment for Kimmel, whose quips about Cecil and the poachers had more of an edge to them than his usual antics.

"First of all, quit saying you took the lion," Kimmel snapped, addressing the Minnesotan dentist who allegedly poached Cecil. "You take Aspirin. You killed the lion."

Kimmel added, "If you're some A-hole dentist who wants a lion's head over the fireplace in his man cave, so his douche-hole buddies can gather around it and drink scotch and tell him how awesome he is, that's just vomitous."

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Then, while sharing the website for the wildlife conservation organization that was tracking Cecil, Kimmel was moved nearly to tears and apologized to his viewers. It happens around the 4:10 mark. Watch below. Jeva Lange