Jimmy Kimmel is officially back. After a whirlwind week of political backlash, celebrity support, and public debate, Disney and ABC have announced the return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! to the airwaves starting Tuesday night.
🔥 The Suspension That Sparked a Firestorm
Kimmel’s show was abruptly suspended on September 17 following his monologue about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In the segment, Kimmel criticized what he called the “MAGA gang” for politicizing the tragedy, sparking outrage from Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr and prompting ABC affiliates like Nexstar and Sinclair to pull the show.
Disney cited the need to “avoid further inflaming a tense situation” and described Kimmel’s comments as “ill-timed and insensitive”.
🎤 Celebrities and Colleagues Rally Behind Kimmel
The suspension ignited a wave of support from Hollywood. Over 400 celebrities—including Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Pedro Pascal, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus—signed an open letter condemning the decision. Fellow late-night hosts like Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver also voiced concerns about censorship and the erosion of free speech.
Even some Republican figures, including Senator Ted Cruz, warned that silencing media voices could set a dangerous precedent.
đź“Ł Disney Reverses Course
After days of “thoughtful conversations” with Kimmel, Disney reversed its decision. In a statement released Monday, the company confirmed the show’s return, saying, “We reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday”.
However, not all affiliates are on board. Sinclair has stated it will not resume airing the show until Kimmel apologizes and makes a donation to Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded.
🧨 What’s Next for Kimmel?
Kimmel, who has hosted the show since 2003, is expected to address the controversy head-on in his return. Whether he will offer an apology or double down remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: his comeback marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over media freedom, political pressure, and the role of satire in American discourse.
📡 Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs weeknights on ABC and is available for streaming online.