AT A GLANCE
- ABC will bring back Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday after suspending the show last week over comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
- The suspension came after pressure from FCC Chair Brendan Carr, affiliate networks, and backlash from conservatives.
- More than 400 artists, led by the ACLU, signed an open letter supporting Kimmel and condemning Disney’s move as a free speech issue.
- The controversy comes as Disney faces government pressure, declining late-night ratings, and Kimmel’s contract expiration in 2026.
ABC Reinstates Jimmy Kimmel After Weeklong Suspension
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will return to the air Tuesday, ABC announced, ending a suspension that began after comments Kimmel made about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Disney, which owns ABC, said the pause was meant to “avoid further inflaming a tense situation.” After discussions with Kimmel, executives opted to bring him back.
Fallout From Kimmel’s Comments on Charlie Kirk
Kimmel was pulled off air after saying the MAGA movement was “working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk” and trying to “characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.” The remarks sparked outrage from Republicans, affiliates like Nexstar and Sinclair, and FCC Chair Brendan Carr.
Protests and Celebrity Backlash Against Disney
Demonstrators gathered outside Disney offices in New York and Burbank, as well as outside the Hollywood theater where Kimmel’s show is filmed. Meanwhile, more than 430 artists, including Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Jennifer Aniston, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, signed an ACLU-organized open letter calling Kimmel’s suspension “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
Trump and FCC Pressure Loom Over Decision
President Donald Trump, a frequent Kimmel target, celebrated the suspension as “great news for America” and urged other late-night hosts to be fired. FCC Chair Carr denied threatening ABC’s licenses but admitted companies were warned about Kimmel’s conduct. He claimed Kimmel’s ratings, not government interference, were to blame.
Disney’s Balancing Act and Kimmel’s Future
Disney CEO Bob Iger and Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden faced competing pressures: defending free speech while needing government approval for key deals like ESPN’s NFL pact. Kimmel’s contract expires in May 2026, adding uncertainty to the future of late-night television.
Broader Media Landscape Shifts
The uproar comes as Trump’s administration escalates its battles with the press, filing lawsuits against major outlets and stripping federal funding from NPR and PBS. CBS also recently canceled Stephen Colbert’s show, underscoring late night’s fragile position in a polarized political climate.
