Jimmy Kimmel has returned!
After almost a week away from the screen, the comedian is back with “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” following the suspension of his show due to comments he made about the killing of Charlie Kirk.
In his first episode back aired on September 23, Kimmel addressed the silence he had maintained through the backlash directed at ABC and Disney.
What Kimmel Shared in His First Monologue Post-Suspension
“Hey guys, you’re tuning in for a special report because we’ve skipped a rerun of ‘Celebrity Family Feud.’ It’s great to be back here this evening!” Kimmel began, humorously referencing the weirdness of the past few days. “Honestly, it’s hard to say who’s had weirder moments, me or the CEO of Tylenol! I’ve been flooded with messages from everywhere. People I’d never expect to hear from, including a bunch of strange folks from my past, it’s honestly been overwhelming!”
Back to Work After Outrage Over ABC’s Suspension
The trouble began on September 17 when Kimmel’s show was put on hold due to his remarks about the “MAGA gang” attempting to misrepresent Tyler Robinson, the suspect arrested for Charlie Kirk’s death. Kimmel claimed they were trying to imply Robinson wasn’t affiliated with them and instead using the situation for political gain.
Brendan Carr, commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, criticized Kimmel for misinforming viewers on Robinson’s ties to the political spectrum, claiming Robinson is linked to President Donald Trump. He even hinted on Benny Johnson’s YouTube channel that there might be repercussions for Kimmel’s comments.
Earlier on that same day, Nexstar Media Group stated they would not feature Kimmel’s show on their ABC networks due to the controversial comments, prompting Disney to halt the show’s production temporarily.
The decision didn’t sit well with many, leading to accusations of censorship within the industry. Fans and supporters took to social media, some stating they would cancel Disney+ subscriptions in solidarity with Kimmel, while a plethora of celebrities, more than 400 including the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Selena Gomez, signed a petition from the ACLU in support of the comedian.
Finally, under public pressure, Disney announced on September 22 that Kimmel’s show was set to return.
Disney explained, “Last Wednesday, we decided to postpone the show to prevent further conflict at a delicate time in our country. It was tough but we thought some remarks were poorly timed and insensitive. However, after talking with Jimmy, we’ve agreed he can return to the air this Tuesday.”
Despite Kimmel’s comeback, Sinclair and Nexstar mentioned they would not broadcast the show on their affiliates as they stand by their previous decision due to Kimmel’s remarks deemed inappropriate during a critical discourse period.
Moreover, Carr dismissed the idea that the government forced Kimmel off the air, asserting his ratings were the reason behind his current predicament, stating during a forum in New York, “What Kimmel is facing stems from audience responses, not any federal intervention.”
Contributing: Reuters
