American comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show will return on ABC’s broadcast network on Tuesday, following a week-long suspension triggered by the host’s controversial comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The reversal was announced by ABC’s parent company, Disney, on Monday, less than a week after the show was abruptly pulled to “avoid further inflaming a tense situation.”
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“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,” the company said. According to CNBC, Disney CEO Bob Iger and Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment, made the final call to bring the late-night show back.
The suspension was triggered by Kimmel’s monologue last Monday, in which he said, “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.”
Kirk was shot dead on September 10 while speaking at a college in Utah. Prosecutors later charged Tyler Robinson, 22, citing statements and text messages in which he confessed to the killing.
The remarks prompted immediate backlash from conservative broadcasters. Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, which operate dozens of ABC-affiliated stations nationwide, both moved to preempt the program.
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Pressure also mounted from federal officials. Brendan Carr, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), publicly warned Disney that failing to address the situation could invite further regulatory scrutiny. US President Donald Trump supported Carr’s stance, suggesting the FCC should consider revoking the broadcast licenses of networks that “only give bad publicity.”
The suspension drew widespread criticism from Hollywood figures, unions, civil liberties groups, and even some Trump supporters. Republican Senator Ted Cruz called Carr’s comments “dangerous as hell” and likened them to “mafioso” tactics.
Despite Disney’s reversal, Sinclair said it will not air the program for now, adding that “discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.” However, it will be available online through ABC’s digital platforms.