NEW YORK — ABC has announced the reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show after initially suspending it due to his controversial comments surrounding the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk earlier this month.
Network officials stated that they engaged in 'thoughtful conversations' with Kimmel before making the decision to bring back the show, which will return to the schedule Tuesday.
Kimmel's remarks, which criticized former President Donald Trump and his supporters, did not primarily focus on Kirk but resulted in backlash from major ABC affiliate owners like Nexstar and Sinclair, who halted airing the show in response to what they labeled as 'offensive and insensitive' comments.
Reacting to the decision to lift Kimmel's suspension, Andrew Kolvert, spokesperson for the organization founded by Kirk, Turning Point USA, expressed disappointment, claiming ABC's decision was a mistake, while arguing that its affiliate owners should not follow suit.
No immediate statements were provided from Nexstar and Sinclair regarding ABC's reinstatement of the show. Jimmy Kimmel himself, under contract with The Walt Disney Company until May 2026, has not commented on the situation.
For context, ABC originally suspended 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' to avoid exacerbating an already tense situation following Kirk's murder. The network later elaborated, expressing concern that some comments made during the broadcast were ill-timed and insensitive.
In the wake of Kimmel's comments, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr condemned them as 'truly sick,' and there were warnings that ABC might face repercussions if the comedian was not disciplined.
Ultimately, the Walt Disney Co. made the decision to bring Kimmel back, emphasizing that multiple discussions led to this conclusion.
Kimmel had described Kirk's death as a 'senseless murder' and expressed condemnation towards individuals celebrating Kirk's demise and Trump's attempts to deflect blame onto the 'radical left.'
As Kimmel returns to the air, the implications of his comments and the network's response continue to resonate, raising questions about the boundaries of free speech in media amid intense political climate.
