Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel will be back on air following a brief suspension, the network announced, as a national debate continues over free speech and media control.
ABC announced on Monday that it would reinstate Jimmy Kimmel Live! after a brief suspension. The decision follows a period of criticism directed at the host for comments he made regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“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,” a statement from the network said.
Kimmel was suspended indefinitely on September 10 after a monologue in which he stated, “many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk” and that “the MAGA gang” was “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”
Following these remarks, Nexstar and Sinclair, two of ABC’s largest affiliate owners, said they would no longer air the program on their stations. Andrew Kolvert, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, commented on X about the reinstatement, saying, “Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmel back on the air is not surprising, but it’s their mistake to make. Nexstar and Sinclair do not have to make the same choice.”
The suspension prompted an open letter from the American Civil Liberties Union, signed by over 430 figures from the entertainment industry, including Robert De Niro, Ben Affleck, and Meryl Streep. The letter argued that the suspension represented “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
The controversy also drew reactions from political figures. President Donald Trump, a frequent subject of Kimmel’s jokes, posted on social media that Kimmel’s suspension was “great news for America.” Additionally, Brendan Carr, the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), issued a warning prior to the suspension that criticized Kimmel’s remarks. Carr later denied that he threatened to revoke ABC’s licenses, stating, “Jimmy Kimmel is in the situation he’s in because of his ratings. Not because of anything that’s happened at the federal government level.”
As of Monday, there was no immediate comment from Nexstar and Sinclair regarding ABC’s decision. Kimmel has hosted his show since 2003 and has been a prominent figure in late-night television. His contract with ABC is set to expire in May 2026.
READ: CNN’s Michael Smerconish Lauds Erika Kirk’s Powerful Memorial Speech
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