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Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel made a powerful return to television on Tuesday night, breaking his silence on the recent ABC suspension that ignited a national debate over free speech. During his emotional monologue, Kimmel emphatically stated that government attempts to silence comedians are “anti-American,” directly addressing the controversy that surrounded his program.
“This show is not important,” Kimmel remarked during his first broadcast since Disney, ABC’s parent company, temporarily pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air. The suspension followed intense pressure from Trump administration officials regarding Kimmel’s comments on the shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. “What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
The Suspension and Fallout
Kimmel’s return came after Disney faced significant backlash from Hollywood stars, influential unions, media personalities, and even prominent Republicans like Ted Cruz. The company had initially suspended the show indefinitely after widespread conservative outcry over Kimmel’s September 15 monologue. In that segment, he suggested that “the Maga gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
During his comeback monologue, Kimmel extended his gratitude to fellow late-night hosts for their solidarity, as well as to his audience and supporters. He also notably thanked those who don’t agree with his show or beliefs but uphold his right to express them.
“I do want to make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human, and that is, you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel clarified. “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.” He added, “Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what – it was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make, but 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. If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I’d have felt the same way.”
Kimmel vs. Trump: A Battle Over Comedy
Later in the monologue, Kimmel directly challenged former President Trump, asserting that he “did his best to cancel me” but instead “forced millions of people to watch the show.” Kimmel highlighted that “the president of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs. Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke.”
Drawing parallels to legendary comedians, Kimmel concluded, “One thing I did learn from Lenny Bruce and George Carlin and Howard Stern, is that a government threat to silence a comedian the President doesn’t like is anti-American.”
The controversy originated when Kimmel’s comments on the Kirk shooting enraged Trump supporters and officials. The Trump-appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, even threatened ABC’s affiliate licenses if Disney failed to “take action” against the host. Subsequently, two major broadcast groups, Nexstar and Sinclair, which together own hundreds of affiliate stations, refused to air the program. This pressure ultimately led Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden to suspend production of the show.
Hollywood’s Defense of Free Speech
The decision to suspend Kimmel’s show prompted intense backlash from the Hollywood community and free speech advocates, leading to boycotts and protests against both ABC and Disney. Hours before Kimmel’s return, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released an open letter signed by over 400 Hollywood stars, including Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Ben Affleck, and Robert De Niro, condemning Disney’s move as “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
Disney issued a statement explaining their initial decision to preempt Kimmel’s show was “to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.” They added, “It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. 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.”
Affiliate Stations Maintain Pre-emption
Despite Kimmel’s return to ABC, his show did not air on affiliate networks owned by Sinclair, which operates the nation’s largest number of ABC affiliate stations. Known for promoting conservative viewpoints, Sinclair announced it would continue to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! until Kimmel apologized to Kirk’s family and made a donation to his conservative activist group, Turning Point USA.
Nexstar, another significant broadcast group, also confirmed its continued pre-emption of the show across its stations in 22 states. They stated, “We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve.”
These continued pre-emptions mean that nearly a quarter of ABC affiliate stations did not air Jimmy Kimmel Live!, though the show remains accessible online and via streaming services Hulu and Disney+.
A Call for Forgiveness
Kimmel concluded his monologue by reflecting on remarks made by Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, at her late husband’s memorial service. “Erika Kirk forgave the man who shot her husband,” Kimmel shared. “That is an example we should follow. It touched me deeply. And if there’s anything we should take from this tragedy to carry forward, I hope it can be that, not this.”