A defiant and emotional Jimmy Kimmel made his long-awaited return to the airwaves on Tuesday, facing backlash for his previous comments regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. After spending nearly a week off-air, Kimmel attempted to clarify his statements about Kirk's alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, and his supposed ties to the MAGA movement. During his monologue, Kimmel became emotional as he praised Kirk’s wife, Erika Kirk, while expressing the gravity of the situation.
In his opening remarks, Kimmel stated, “You understand that it was never my intention to make light of a murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.” His remarks were met with standing ovations from the audience, yet he acknowledged the mixed reactions to his earlier comments. “I understand that to some, that felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both, and for those who think I did point a finger, I get why you’re upset,” he said, referencing the suspension of his show by ABC, parent company Disney.
While Kimmel did not offer a direct apology regarding his comments about Charlie Kirk, he stated, “I don’t think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone. This is a sick person who believes violence is a solution, and it isn’t.” This sentiment was echoed during a memorial service for Kirk, where his widow demonstrated remarkable grace by forgiving Robinson for his actions. Kimmel remarked, “She forgave him. That is an example we should follow,” emphasizing the need for compassion and understanding in the face of tragedy.
Despite the weight of the situation, Kimmel maintained his typical comedic style, incorporating sharp jabs at former President Donald Trump and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. However, he refrained from criticizing ABC and Disney directly, except for a humorous condition of his return that involved reading instructions for renewing Disney+ subscriptions. The episode featured a surprise cameo by actor Robert De Niro, who mocked Kimmel’s previous comments about government agencies employing Mafia-like tactics.
Just before Kimmel's episode aired, Trump took to Truth Social to express his disbelief over ABC’s decision to reinstate Kimmel. “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back,” Trump wrote, criticizing the network for bringing back a host he deemed unfunny and detrimental to the network’s reputation.
Kimmel’s show was suspended last Wednesday following his incendiary remarks regarding Kirk’s assassination, which sparked outrage among conservatives. During his return, Kimmel mentioned, “I did not agree with that decision, and I told them that, and we had many conversations.” He acknowledged the complex dynamics of working within a large corporation like Disney while expressing gratitude for his return to the air.
The suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” incited significant public backlash, including calls for boycotts against Disney for perceived media suppression and First Amendment violations. Even within Disney, former CEO Michael Eisner criticized the move, labeling it a cowardly concession to intimidation from the FCC. This controversy prompted some fans, including radio legend Howard Stern, to cancel their Disney+ subscriptions in protest.
In response to the ongoing controversy, ABC stations owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group announced that they would not air “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and would instead broadcast standard news programming. Sinclair's statement noted, “Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.” Following suit, Nexstar Media Group, which operates additional ABC affiliates, also decided to preempt Kimmel’s show for the foreseeable future, primarily impacting key markets along the East Coast.
The White House has denied any involvement in Kimmel's suspension, asserting that it was not a result of government-driven suppression of speech.
