An emotional Jimmy Kimmel has criticized anti-American threats to free speech during his return to late-night US television - following a brief suspension after comments he made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The comedian said during Tuesday's show - his first since the controversy - that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.
Kimmel also compared Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr to a mob boss, and poked fun at President Donald Trump's appearance at the UN - including an escalator mishap.
However, Tuesday's episode was not viewable in all markets, due to resistance from many local stations affiliated with ABC.
It was, however, available on streaming service Hulu + Live TV, owned by Disney - which is also the parent company of ABC.
Dozens of local TV stations in the US run by affiliates Nexstar and Sinclair said they would continue to replace Jimmy Kimmel Live! with alternate programming for now.
Carr - who leads the organization that regulates American television - praised their decision in a post on X on Tuesday.
We need to keep empowering local TV stations to serve their communities of license, said Carr, a Trump appointee, who last week threatened action against Disney and ABC, the companies that produce and air Kimmel's show.
Speaking on Tuesday's programme, Kimmel expressed his concern about the FCC chair's changing stance, stating he had not wanted to blame any specific group for Kirk's murder, while praising Erika Kirk for forgiving her husband's alleged killer at a weekend memorial service.
It was a selfless act of grace... that touched me deeply, Kimmel commented.
Kimmel criticized Carr, who was one of the first to call for his suspension, indicating the FCC chair had shifted from being a free speech advocate to restricting Kimmel's freedom to create.
He also condemned Trump's calls for the axing of his fellow late-night hosts, all of whom frequently criticize the president. Our leader celebrates people losing their livelihoods because he can't take a joke, Kimmel said, adding that Trump rooting for job losses was un-American and dangerous.
Kimmel humorously opened a statement that was purportedly written for him by Disney, which included a joke about reactivating a Disney+ subscription.
Calls to cancel streaming subscriptions over Kimmel's brief suspension have emerged, further politicizing the issue.
Before the show aired, Trump remarked on social media about Kimmel’s reinstatement, expressing disbelief and claiming the White House was informed that the show was canceled. Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his 'talent' was never there, Trump wrote, also threatening to test ABC out on this.
Kimmel's guests for the night included actor Glen Powell and musical guest Sarah McLachlan.
The show was initially pulled following his September 15 monologue about Kirk's shooting, which had instigated significant backlash.
Kimmel accused Trump and his supporters of trying to manipulate the narrative surrounding Kirk’s murderer for political gain, likening Trump's reaction to child-like mourning.
His critique drew ire from Carr, who alleged Kimmel was misleading the public with his remarks.
In response to the show's suspension, lawmakers, labor unions, and free speech advocates rallied in defense of Kimmel. The backlash included public support from other late-night hosts such as Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, and Seth Meyers.
Ultimately, on Monday, Disney announced it would reinstate Kimmel’s show after having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy.
Nonetheless, major TV station owners like Nexstar and Sinclair indicated they would not broadcast Kimmel's show until they received assurances for a respectful dialogue environment.
In summary, the incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding free speech in media and the political landscape, as Kimmel's humorous yet critical tone continues to provoke strong reactions from various sides.
