ABC Resumes Jimmy Kimmel Live! After Controversy Over Comments
ABC has announced that it will reinstate Jimmy Kimmel‘s late-night show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” following a suspension that drew significant public backlash. The network confirmed that Kimmel’s show will return on Tuesday, after officials engaged in discussions with the comedian about his controversial remarks concerning the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed on September 10, 2023.
In a statement released on Monday, ABC emphasized the importance of their conversations with Kimmel, leading to the decision to resume the show. The network had suspended Kimmel indefinitely after he suggested during a monologue that “many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk.” He further criticized “the MAGA gang” for attempting to distance themselves from the perpetrator of the crime.
Kimmel, who has hosted the show since 2003, is a prominent figure in television and comedy. He has also gained recognition for hosting the Academy Awards four times. The backlash against Kimmel’s comments was immediate, with major affiliate owners such as Nexstar and Sinclair announcing they would pull “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from their programming, while some fellow comedians publicly defended him.
Former President Donald Trump, who is often a target of Kimmel’s humor, responded to the suspension on social media, calling it “great news for America” and suggesting that other late-night hosts should also be dismissed. Kimmel had previously expressed concerns regarding potential backlash against comedians from the Trump administration. In an interview with Variety, he stated, “Well, you’d have to be naive not to worry a little bit. But that can’t change what you’re doing.”
The timing of Kimmel’s suspension coincided with a broader trend of increasing pressure on media outlets from the Trump administration, which has included lawsuits and threats aimed at various news organizations. Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, had previously warned about Kimmel’s remarks, stating, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” suggesting that action against Kimmel could be necessary.
In a notable show of solidarity, over 430 Hollywood and Broadway stars, including Robert De Niro, Ben Affleck, and Meryl Streep, signed an open letter from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) urging Americans to defend their constitutionally protected rights. The letter described Kimmel’s suspension as indicative of a “dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
On the same day, ABC’s “The View” addressed the controversy, with co-host Whoopi Goldberg stating, “No one silences us,” as she and her fellow hosts condemned Disney’s decision to suspend Kimmel.
As “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” prepares to return, the situation highlights ongoing tensions in the media landscape, where the boundaries of free speech and political commentary continue to be fiercely debated.
