ABC announced Monday that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will resume airing on Tuesday, ending a suspension that lasted less than a week following controversy over comments Kimmel made about the political fallout from conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing.
The Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC, said in a statement that the pause was meant to prevent tensions from escalating after Kimmel’s Sept. 15 monologue. “Last Wednesday, we decided to suspend production on the show to avoid inflaming an already emotional moment for our country,” Disney explained. “We felt some of the remarks were ill-timed and insensitive. After several days of constructive conversations with Jimmy, we’ve decided to return the show on Tuesday.”
During the monologue at the center of the controversy, Kimmel criticized supporters of former President Donald Trump for “trying to score political points” by labeling Tyler Robinson—the 22-year-old accused of killing Kirk—as a left-wing radical, and went so far as to suggest Robinson was “one of them.”
That segment quickly triggered a backlash. Nexstar Media Group, which owns hundreds of television stations, announced it would pre-empt Kimmel’s program on all of its affiliates. Disney responded by halting production, while Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr publicly warned he might “take action” against the host for his remarks, telling conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, “Look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
The suspension provoked an outcry from Hollywood. More than 400 actors, writers, and producers signed an open letter published Monday condemning what they described as threats to free expression. “Regardless of our political affiliation, or whether we engage in politics or not, we all love our country,” the letter read. “We also share the belief that our voices should never be silenced by those in power — because if it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.” Demonstrators also gathered outside Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, Calif., on Sept. 18 to protest the suspension.
Kimmel’s late-night peers rallied to his side as well. “This is a big moment in our democracy, and we must all stand up for the principles of free expression,” NBC’s Late Night host Seth Meyers said last week. “There’s a reason free speech is in the very first amendment. It stands above all others.”
Even some Republicans typically aligned with Trump voiced concern. “I think it is unbelievably dangerous for government to put itself in the position of saying we’re going to decide what speech we like and what we don’t,” Sen. Ted Cruz said on his podcast Friday. “And we’re going to threaten to take you off air if we don’t like what you’re saying.”
ABC’s move to reinstate Kimmel does not guarantee the show’s return across all local markets. Nexstar may stick with its decision to block broadcasts, and Sinclair Inc., the country’s largest owner of ABC affiliates, has likewise indicated it won’t resume airing the show until “appropriate steps” are taken. Last week Sinclair demanded Kimmel deliver a direct apology to Kirk’s family and make a significant donation to Turning Point USA, Kirk’s organization, before the show is restored.
The Trump administration has pushed back on claims that the suspension amounted to government censorship. “This is about Nexstar and Sinclair vs. Disney, and that’s ultimately a business decision,” Carr said on conservative radio host Dana Loesch’s program last week.
Trump himself applauded ABC’s initial suspension, calling it an overdue move rooted in Kimmel’s “lack of talent.” During a trip to the United Kingdom he told reporters, “He had very bad ratings and they should have fired him a long time ago. So, you know, you can call that free speech or not. He was fired for lack of talent.”
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