Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension Lifted, Show Resumes Tuesday/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ ABC has reinstated Jimmy Kimmel after suspending him over controversial comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Backlash and affiliate pushback followed, while celebrities and comedians rallied behind him. His show returns Tuesday amid ongoing political and media industry tension.
Jimmy Kimmel Reinstated Quick Looks
- ABC reverses Jimmy Kimmel’s indefinite suspension following internal discussions.
- Kimmel’s controversial monologue referenced the killing of conservative figure Charlie Kirk.
- Affiliate backlash included Sinclair pulling the show; Nexstar also expressed concern.
- FCC chairman denied threatening ABC licenses, attributed suspension to ratings.
- Hollywood stars and civil liberties groups decry the suspension as free speech suppression.
- Kimmel’s return adds new dimension to an already shifting late-night landscape.
Deep Look:
ABC Ends Jimmy Kimmel Suspension, Late-Night Show Resumes Tuesday
NEW YORK — After a firestorm of controversy surrounding remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, ABC has announced the return of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” effective Tuesday. The move ends a nearly week-long suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and signals a complex balancing act between media influence, corporate interests, and political pressures.
In a statement issued Monday, ABC said, “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.” The network had suspended Kimmel indefinitely after he made remarks implicating “MAGA land” in the political fallout following Kirk’s death on September 10.
Kimmel’s monologue drew immediate backlash when he claimed that “many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk,” adding that efforts were underway to disassociate the shooter from right-wing ideology. These comments sparked outrage among conservative groups, prompting major ABC affiliates such as Nexstar and Sinclair to pull the show from their lineups temporarily.
Sinclair confirmed it would not air the show on Tuesday, opting to broadcast news programming instead, while discussions with ABC continue. Nexstar has yet to confirm whether it will resume airing Kimmel’s program.
Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA — the conservative organization Kirk founded and now led by his widow — criticized ABC’s decision. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kolvet stated, “Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmel back on the air is not surprising, but it’s their mistake to make. Nexstar and Sinclair do not have to make the same choice.”
Despite the controversy, some fellow comedians came to Kimmel’s defense. Stephen Colbert opened Monday’s “Late Show” with an enthusiastic welcome back message for Kimmel, joking, “Our long national, late-nightmare is over.” Colbert, whose own show will end after this season, expressed joy for Kimmel and his team.
However, political responses were not as supportive. President Donald Trump, a frequent target of Kimmel’s satire, called Kimmel’s initial suspension “great news for America” and pushed for other late-night hosts to be removed from air. He has yet to comment on the show’s reinstatement.
The situation took a deeper political turn when FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr publicly condemned Kimmel’s remarks. Carr warned broadcasters that the FCC might take action if networks did not address content like Kimmel’s. However, on Monday, Carr clarified that there were no threats to revoke ABC’s broadcasting licenses, attributing the suspension instead to ratings and business decisions.
“This isn’t a federal issue,” Carr stated at the Concordia Annual Summit. “Jimmy Kimmel is in the situation he’s in because of his ratings. Not because of anything that’s happened at the federal government level.”
Behind the scenes, the incident highlights a precarious moment for broadcasters like Disney, Nexstar, and Sinclair, who rely on government approvals for major deals. Disney, for example, is seeking regulatory approval for ESPN’s acquisition of the NFL Network. Nexstar is in talks for a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna. Meanwhile, Sinclair has lobbied for relaxed federal regulations on station ownership.
Adding further intensity to the debate, more than 430 actors, comedians, directors, and writers signed an open letter through the American Civil Liberties Union, condemning Kimmel’s suspension. High-profile names like Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Aniston, and Tom Hanks joined the call to protect freedom of speech, calling the incident “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
ABC’s daytime show “The View” also joined the chorus of criticism. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg addressed the controversy directly, declaring, “No one silences us,” while condemning Disney’s initial decision to pull Kimmel from the air.
Adding to the ripple effect, New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani reversed his decision to skip a local ABC town hall, stating Monday that he’s now open to participating following Kimmel’s reinstatement.
The uproar surrounding Kimmel’s remarks underscores broader cultural and political tensions — particularly regarding media freedom, corporate accountability, and the limits of satire in an increasingly divided nation. With the late-night television landscape already shifting — CBS having announced Colbert’s upcoming departure — Kimmel’s return marks not just a reinstatement, but a test case for how networks will navigate the future of political comedy and media scrutiny.
Kimmel, whose contract with Disney-owned ABC is set to run through May 2026, has not made a public statement since the suspension was lifted.
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