After nearly a week off the air, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is set to return on Tuesday, The Walt Disney Company confirmed Monday. The late-night program was pulled last week following backlash over comments host Jimmy Kimmel made regarding the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Disney, which owns ABC, announced that the show had been suspended “to avoid further inflaming a tense national moment,” acknowledging Kimmel’s remarks were “ill-timed and insensitive.” Company executives said they held several discussions with the host before deciding to bring the show back.
Kimmel has yet to issue a public statement about his return. In his September 15 monologue, he criticized efforts by Trump supporters to frame the Kirk shooting for political advantage, while also mocking former President Donald Trump’s response.
The fallout was swift. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr blasted Kimmel’s comments as “sick,” raising the possibility of regulatory action, while Trump praised ABC for initially sidelining the host. Critics, however, argued the move was an attack on free speech. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez and Sen. Ted Cruz both condemned Carr’s stance, warning against government interference in protected speech.
Hollywood quickly rallied around Kimmel. Actors Tom Hanks and Robert De Niro, along with other A-listers, signed an open letter calling the suspension “a dark moment for freedom of expression.” Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner also weighed in, urging corporate leaders to defend the First Amendment.
Still, major station groups pushed back. Nexstar Media Group, which owns more than 200 local TV stations, and Sinclair Broadcast Group both said they would continue pre-empting “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” regardless of ABC’s decision. Nexstar cited the need to reflect “local community values,” while Sinclair announced it would replace the show with news programming “until further notice.”
The clash has spotlighted the growing tension between broadcast standards, political discourse, and free speech in entertainment media. As Disney reinstates its flagship late-night program, the broader battle over what’s acceptable on national television is far from over.
