Jimmy Kimmel is heading back to ABC’s lineup Tuesday night, less than a week after the network benched Jimmy Kimmel Live! amid the furor following his remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. This, according to a Disney report.
In a statement, Disney said it paused production “to avoid further inflaming a tense situation” and because some of Kimmel’s comments were “ill-timed.” Executives said they spent the past several days in conversations with the host and decided to resume the show. The move was approved by Disney CEO Bob Iger and Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment, according to a person familiar with the decision.
Whether every ABC affiliate will carry the program is an open question. Two of the largest station groups, Nexstar and Sinclair, previously instructed their ABC outlets to preempt Kimmel after his monologue sparked backlash — pressure that intensified after FCC Chair Brendan Carr publicly urged broadcasters to rein in his comments.
The suspension triggered a swift response from Hollywood and civil-liberties advocates. A letter coordinated by the ACLU garnered about 400 signatures, including notable names such as Tom Hanks and Martin Short, arguing that pulling Kimmel dealt a blow to free expression. Support also poured in from unions and fellow late-night figures.
It’s unclear if Kimmel will apologize on air. Late-night hosts have walked that line before — David Letterman, Bill Maher, and Samantha Bee each issued mea culpas when jokes crossed a line — but ABC is keeping any on-camera plan under wraps until Tuesday.
Kimmel’s original monologue criticized efforts to spin theories around Kirk’s killer and ribbed President Trump for pivoting to talk of a new White House ballroom when asked how he was mourning. The episode put a spotlight on the squeeze traditional media companies face as political pushback collides with legal threats and social-media outrage cycles. In recent months, Trump has sued ABC News and CBS News over unrelated matters, cases that ended in costly settlements despite skepticism from legal experts.
Late night itself is shifting. The format’s center of gravity has moved from couch chats to viral clips, and the audience has been shrinking. CBS is exiting the space entirely and will end The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May, citing weak ad markets — though industry chatter suggests the new Paramount leadership also wants less overt political combat.
For Kimmel, the return extends a run that currently lasts through 2026, when his ABC contract expires. He’s openly pondered when to say goodbye. For now, he’s back, and the first monologue after the storm may be one of the most closely watched of his career.
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Charlie Kirk shot and killed at Utah Valley University event
