ABC announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to the air Tuesday night, less than a week after the network abruptly suspended the late-night show over comments host Jimmy Kimmel made regarding conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death.
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| Jimmy Kimmel |
The Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC, initially paused the show on Sept. 18, citing Kimmel’s monologue as “ill-timed” during a sensitive national moment. “We made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” Disney said in a Monday statement. “After thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”
Kimmel’s comments, delivered on Sept. 15, criticized the political reaction surrounding the accused killer of Kirk, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. The late-night host suggested that Robinson was being portrayed by Trump supporters as a left-wing radical to “score political points.” His remarks prompted backlash from Nexstar, which owns hundreds of TV affiliates, and led the Federal Communications Commission’s Republican chairman, Brendan Carr, to threaten regulatory action.
The suspension quickly drew nationwide attention. More than 400 Hollywood stars signed a letter denouncing what they described as a threat to free speech. NBC’s Late Night host Seth Meyers also defended Kimmel, calling free expression “the very first principle of our democracy.” Even Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) voiced concern, warning that government interference in political commentary could set a dangerous precedent.
Former President Donald Trump, however, praised ABC for suspending Kimmel, claiming the decision was based on ratings rather than censorship. “He had very bad ratings and they should have fired him a long time ago,” Trump said during a trip to the U.K.
Still, ABC’s decision to reinstate Jimmy Kimmel Live! does not guarantee full nationwide distribution. Sinclair Inc., the largest owner of ABC affiliates, announced it will not air the show on its 185 stations, while Nexstar also confirmed it will continue preempting Kimmel’s program.
“This is about Nexstar and Sinclair vs. Disney, and that’s ultimately a business decision,” FCC Chairman Carr explained.
While Disney has moved to restore Kimmel to the late-night lineup, the controversy underscores a larger national debate over free speech, media power, and political influence. As FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez noted, “It will continue to be up to us as citizens to push back against this administration’s growing campaign of censorship and control.”
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