Jimmy Kimmel returns to late-night show after suspension over controversial remarks
TOI World Desk | TOI Global Desk | Sep 24, 2025, 03:23 IST
Jimmy Kimmel returns to Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tuesday, after ABC suspended him over remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The suspension sparked national debate on free speech and Trump’s influence over the media. While ABC reinstated Kimmel, major affiliates Nexstar and Sinclair refuse to air the show. It’s unclear if Kimmel will address the controversy on air.
After a week-long suspension, Jimmy Kimmel will return to the late-night show on Tuesday. ABC suspended the late-night show host over controversial remarks he made about the assassination of Charlie Kirk last Wednesday, which sparked national debates over freedom of speech and the Trump administration's influence over media.
On Monday, the ABC announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live would return after the host and the network reached a resolution. “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,” Disney said on Monday. Disney also released a statement saying they decided to pause the production of the show in order to avoid escalating tensions at an already emotional moment for the country.
Nexstar Media and the Sinclair broadcast group, which together control about a quarter of ABC affiliates, are not happy with welcoming Kimmel back to the show and said they would continue to preempt the show, raising concerns over Kimmel's remark.
Jimmy Kimmel was suspended indefinitely by the abc following the outrage from conservatives over the comments he made on his show last week. “The MAGA gang (is) desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said on the show. He also criticised Trump for reacting in a way “like how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish” for the murder of a friend.
Then, Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), who was appointed by Trump, accused Kimmel of misleading the American public about Tyler Robinson, the man charged with Kirk's murder. Carr called for actions against Kimmel, saying, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” before ABC announced Kimmel's suspension.
Carr's remarks were condemned by Hollywood stars, with republican sean ted cruz saying Carr behaved like “a mafioso”. The American Civil Liberties Union circulated a letter defending Kimmel, which was signed by Around 400 celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston, Barbra Streisand, and Selena Gomez. Several viewers also cancelled their subscription to Disney's online streaming platforms.
President Donald Trump celebrated Kimmel's suspension and falsely claimed the show had been cancelled. Trump's administration has used threats and filed lawsuits to apply pressure and exert more control over media outlets. Trump's team has sued ABC and CBS and has also filed defamation lawsuits against The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
ABC labelled Kimmel's comment as “ill-timed and thus insensitive,” and did not call it misleading.
The late-night show will definitely draw viewers on Tuesday night with Kimmel being back on the show; however, it remains unclear if Kimmel will address the controversy on his first night back.
On Monday, the ABC announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live would return after the host and the network reached a resolution. “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,” Disney said on Monday. Disney also released a statement saying they decided to pause the production of the show in order to avoid escalating tensions at an already emotional moment for the country.
Nexstar Media and the Sinclair broadcast group, which together control about a quarter of ABC affiliates, are not happy with welcoming Kimmel back to the show and said they would continue to preempt the show, raising concerns over Kimmel's remark.
Jimmy Kimmel was suspended indefinitely by the abc following the outrage from conservatives over the comments he made on his show last week. “The MAGA gang (is) desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said on the show. He also criticised Trump for reacting in a way “like how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish” for the murder of a friend.
Then, Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), who was appointed by Trump, accused Kimmel of misleading the American public about Tyler Robinson, the man charged with Kirk's murder. Carr called for actions against Kimmel, saying, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” before ABC announced Kimmel's suspension.
Carr's remarks were condemned by Hollywood stars, with republican sean ted cruz saying Carr behaved like “a mafioso”. The American Civil Liberties Union circulated a letter defending Kimmel, which was signed by Around 400 celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston, Barbra Streisand, and Selena Gomez. Several viewers also cancelled their subscription to Disney's online streaming platforms.
President Donald Trump celebrated Kimmel's suspension and falsely claimed the show had been cancelled. Trump's administration has used threats and filed lawsuits to apply pressure and exert more control over media outlets. Trump's team has sued ABC and CBS and has also filed defamation lawsuits against The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
ABC labelled Kimmel's comment as “ill-timed and thus insensitive,” and did not call it misleading.
The late-night show will definitely draw viewers on Tuesday night with Kimmel being back on the show; however, it remains unclear if Kimmel will address the controversy on his first night back.