Jimmy Kimmel has defended free speech and addressed his comments on the killing of Charlie Kirk in his first episode back since he was pulled off the air last week.
Addressing his comments about Charlie Kirk, Kimmel offered a tearful apology saying that it was never his intention to make light of the murder and that it may have been an ill-timed statement.
Kimmel’s suspension by ABC last week over comments he made about Charlie Kirk’s killing sparked a national debate over freedom of speech.
During that monologue last week, Kimmel said, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
The comic’s abrupt suspension came after threats by the federal TV regulator to revoke ABC’s broadcast licence. Disney, which owns ABC, said it suspended the show because it “felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive.”
US President, Donald Trump welcomed Kimmel’s suspension and suggested that some TV networks should have their licences “taken away” for negative coverage of him. Hundreds of celebrities signed a letter backing Kimmel, including Meryl Streep and Robert DeNiro.
During his comeback show, Kimmel said that he never wanted to blame any specific group for Kirk’s murder and praised Erika Kirk’s forgiveness of the killer at a memorial over the weekend. “It was a selfless act of grace… that touched me deeply,” he said, adding that America should take Erika Kirk’s comments as an example.
The comedian thanked those who protested for his return, as well as prominent conservatives who dislike him but didn’t support his suspension.
Kimmel blasted Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr, who was one of the first to call for his suspension. “Brendan Carr is the most embarrassing car Republicans have embraced since this one,” he stated, showing a picture of a Tesla Cybertruck with Trump’s name emblazed on the size.
He said that that Carr used to be a free speech advocate, but the script flipped when it came to his show last week.
Also, Kimmel called out Trump for calling for the firing of his fellow late night hosts, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers. “Our leader celebrates people losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke,” he said. He added that Trump openly rooting for people to lose their jobs is “un-American” and “dangerous.”
“A government threat to silence a comedian the president doesn’t like is anti-American. Our government cannot be allowed to control what we do and do not say on television.”
Jimmy Kimmel
Trump Slams Jimmy Kimmel’s Return To The Air
Donald Trump took to Truth Social to slam Kimmel’s return to the air. “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back,” he posted.
“The White House was told by ABC that his show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there.”
Donald Trump
The US President doubled down on his earlier statements that Kimmel is “not funny” and has poor ratings, and threatened to go after ABC.
“I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million.This one sounds even more lucrative.”
Donald Trump
In 2024, ABC News agreed to pay $15m (£12m) to Trump to settle a defamation lawsuit after its star anchor George Stephanopoulos falsely said he had been found “liable for rape.”
Meanwhile, almost 70 affiliate stations of ABC owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group did not air Jimmy Kimmel’s comeback show.
Entertainment publication Deadline disclosed that the show didn’t reach about one quarter of US households. Sinclair and Nexstar said in statements that they would be replacing Jimmy Kimmel Live! with other programmes.
Sinclair said that “discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return”, while Nextar said it “stands by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve.”
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