ABC has announced the reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, following backlash over his comments regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The show is set to return on Tuesday, after the network suspended Kimmel indefinitely due to his remarks during a monologue.
In a statement released on Monday, ABC officials noted, “We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.” Kimmel faced criticism for suggesting that “many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk,” and that “the MAGA gang” was attempting to distance themselves from the accused perpetrator of the crime.
Kimmel has been a prominent figure in television since he began hosting “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in 2003. His career spans decades, and he is also known for hosting the Academy Awards on four occasions.
Backlash and Support for Kimmel
The backlash to Kimmel’s remarks was immediate and widespread. Major affiliates of ABC, including Nexstar and Sinclair, announced plans to pull the show from their stations in response to viewer complaints. Despite this, many in the entertainment industry came to Kimmel’s defense. High-profile individuals, including fellow comedians, rallied to support him during this challenging time.
Former President Donald Trump, a frequent target of Kimmel’s humor, took to social media to comment on the situation. He described Kimmel’s suspension as “great news for America” and called for the dismissal of other late-night hosts. Kimmel had previously expressed concerns about potential reprisals against comedians, stating in an interview with Variety that “you’d have to be naive not to worry a little bit.”
The suspension took place against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny of media figures by the Trump administration, which has engaged in various legal actions and pressures aimed at influencing media coverage. The former president has reached settlements with ABC and CBS regarding their reporting.
Federal Communications Commission Involvement
Prior to Kimmel’s suspension, Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), issued a warning regarding Kimmel’s comments. Carr cautioned that the network could face further scrutiny if it did not take action against Kimmel, stating, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
The late-night television landscape is undergoing significant changes, with CBS recently announcing the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show over the summer. Kimmel’s contract with the Walt Disney Company-owned ABC is set to expire in May 2026.
The reinstatement of Kimmel’s show coincides with a broader movement within Hollywood, where over 430 stars, including Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep, signed an open letter from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). This letter emphasized the importance of defending free speech in light of Kimmel’s suspension, describing it as a “dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
As Kimmel prepares to return to the airwaves, discussions around the implications of his suspension continue to resonate within the entertainment industry. On the same day as ABC’s announcement, Whoopi Goldberg, co-host of ABC’s “The View,” addressed the controversy, affirming, “No one silences us,” and condemning Disney’s decision to suspend Kimmel.
With Kimmel’s return imminent, both supporters and critics are closely watching how the late-night landscape will evolve in the coming weeks, as discussions around freedom of expression in comedy remain at the forefront of national discourse.