ABC announced on Monday that it will bring back Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show after suspending him for comments made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The network said in a statement, “We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”
Kimmel was suspended indefinitely following remarks during a monologue about Kirk, who was killed on September 10. In his comments, Kimmel said, “many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk” and that “the MAGA gang” was “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”
Kimmel has hosted “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” since 2003 and is known for hosting major events such as the Academy Awards.
After his remarks, Nexstar and Sinclair—two large ABC affiliate owners—announced they would pull Kimmel’s show from their stations. Several comedians voiced support for Kimmel. There was no immediate response from Nexstar or Sinclair regarding ABC’s decision to reinstate the show.
Andrew Kolvert, spokesperson for Turning Point USA (founded by Kirk and now led by his widow), commented on X: “Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmel back on the air is not surprising, but it’s their mistake to make. Nexstar and Sinclair do not have to make the same choice.”
Former President Donald Trump responded on social media calling Kimmel’s suspension “great news for America,” while also urging networks to fire other late night hosts.
In an interview with Variety earlier this year, Kimmel addressed concerns about government actions against comedians: “Well, you’d have to be naive not to worry a little bit,” he said. “But that can’t change what you’re doing.”
The suspension came amid broader efforts by Trump’s administration to influence media coverage through lawsuits and federal pressure. Trump has settled disputes with ABC and CBS over their reporting and filed defamation suits against The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Additionally, Republicans in Congress have cut federal funding for NPR and PBS.
Federal Communications Commission head Brendan Carr previously criticized Kimmel’s remarks but denied threatening ABC’s station licenses: “Jimmy Kimmel is in the situation he’s in because of his ratings. Not because of anything that’s happened at the federal government level,” Carr said at the Concordia Annual Summit.
The incident occurs as changes continue in late night television; CBS canceled Stephen Colbert’s show earlier this summer.
Kimmel’s contract with Disney-owned ABC is set to expire in May 2026.
News of his reinstatement coincided with an open letter signed by more than 430 entertainment industry figures—including Robert De Niro, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Selena Gomez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Hanks, and Meryl Streep—calling for Americans to defend constitutional rights after Kimmel’s suspension. The American Civil Liberties Union organized the letter stating it is “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
On Monday’s episode of “The View,” co-host Whoopi Goldberg addressed the controversy: “No one silences us,” she said as she and her colleagues criticized Disney’s decision.
