ABC announced that “Jimmy Kimmel Live” will return to the air on Tuesday, ending a suspension that began last week following a monologue where Kimmel remarked that “The MAGA gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” sparking widespread political and media backlash.
The decision, made by Walt Disney Company, ABC’s parent, came last Wednesday amid heightened U.S. tensions after Kirk’s killing, with the network saying, “It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive.” After days of discussions with the host, they agreed to resume broadcasting.
The show was suspended “without a set timeline” last week after Trump administration officials and conservatives accused Kimmel of misrepresenting the motive of Kirk’s alleged killer.
Hours later, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr appeared on a conservative podcast, calling it “a coordinated effort to lie to the American people” and hinting at possible regulatory action with, “This can be done the easy way or the hard way.”
Behind the scenes, Disney executives reviewed Kimmel’s planned monologue for that packed evening and ultimately halted it, leading to intense negotiations with his representatives to find a compromise.
The sudden suspension of one of America’s most popular late-night shows quickly became a flashpoint in the debate over free speech and television networks’ responsibilities in public discourse, especially as accusations of media bias relentlessly target mainstream outlets.
It remains unclear whether all ABC-affiliated stations, including networks like Nexstar and Sinclair—which previously vowed to avoid airing the show—will broadcast upcoming episodes. However, Disney’s top leadership expects the return to signal an end to the crisis and a return to normalcy.