Jimmy Kimmel is coming back to late-night TV after being suspended by ABC over comments he made about the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!‘ will return to the air on Tuesday night. But what made ABC change its mind so quickly? And why are some stations still refusing to show the program?
What Led To The Suspension Of Jimmy Kimmel’s Show
On the September 15 episode of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!,’ while addressing the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, Kimmel said that “many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder” and added that “the MAGA gang” was trying to paint the suspect as someone who wasn’t “one of them.”
Although the comment was a short one, the reaction came swooping in. Many critics accused Kimmel of politicizing a tragedy, while others argued that he was simply speaking truth to power. Either way, the backlash came soon.
Just a few days later, ABC announced that the show would be suspended “indefinitely.” But later, the network cited that the move was intended to “avoid further inflaming of a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.” Many people believed there was more going on behind the scenes.
Soon after the episode aired, things got even more complicated. Brendan Carr, the head of the FCC, made comments that sounded more like warnings. He said companies needed to take action on Kimmel, or the FCC might get involved. Even though he later denied threatening ABC, many thought the intention was clear.
At the same time, two of ABC’s largest affiliate station owners, Nexstar and Sinclair, stepped in. Both companies announced they would stop airing ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!‘. Sinclair took it even further, stating that the show would not return to their stations unless Kimmel apologized, met with their executives, and made a donation to Turning Point USA, the group Kirk founded.
It didn’t help that both affiliate groups had major business deals pending that required federal approval, and raised more questions about whether the suspension was truly editorial, or if there was a strategic play behind it.
Hollywood Finally Speaks Up!
The suspension quickly became more than just a programming decision and triggered backlash across the entertainment industry. Now, many view it as a dangerous violation of freedom of speech.
More than 400 actors, writers, and entertainers signed a letter from the ACLU in support of Kimmel and free speech. Big names like Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Aniston, and Ben Affleck all added their names.
In case you missed it: Donald Trump Celebrates As ABC Suspends Jimmy Kimmel’s Show Following Controversial Charlie Kirk Remark
Stephen Colbert, who hosts ‘The Late Show,’ celebrated Kimmel’s return with a bit of humour. He called it the end of a “late-nightmare” and cheered on his friend, who appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! team. The Writers Guild of America also weighed in, calling the suspension “an act of corporate cowardice” and insisting that “the right to disturb is at the very heart of what it means to be free.”
Is There More Going On Behind The Scenes?
While ABC stayed mostly quiet at first, reports say a lot was going on behind the scenes. Reports suggest that Kimmel had no plans to retract his comments. In fact, he was preparing to defend them on-air, insisting they had been “grossly mischaracterized” and taken out of context.
That wasn’t what ABC wanted to hear. Disney executives, worried that a fiery comeback might make things worse, opted to suspend the show “indefinitely.” But after several days of discussions and mounting public pressure, Disney reversed course. On Monday, the company announced that Kimmel would return to air on Tuesday night.
Although Jimmy Kimmel Live! is returning to ABC, its full reach remains in question. Sinclair, which operates ABC affiliates in major markets including Washington, D.C., has stated that it will not air the show until Kimmel meets its demands, which include an apology and a donation to Turning Point. Nexstar, the largest owner of local TV stations in the U.S., has not publicly confirmed whether it will resume airing the program.
This means that while Kimmel is technically back, some viewers across the country may not be able to see his show on their usual local channels. However, episodes will still be available online after airing. As Jimmy Kimmel Live! resumes, all eyes will be on what Kimmel says next.
