NEW YORK — ABC has announced that it will reinstate Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show after a temporary suspension that followed the host's comments regarding the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The network stated on Monday that they had thorough discussions with Kimmel and decided to bring the show back on air starting Tuesday.
The controversy began when Kimmel made statements criticizing reactions from people associated with former President Donald Trump, particularly relating to Kirk's tragic death. ABC's affiliates Nexstar and Sinclair expressed their dissatisfaction, leading to the show being pulled from their networks.
Andrew Kolvert, a representative of Turning Point USA, an organization founded by Kirk, posted on social media expressing disappointment over Kimmel's reinstatement, suggesting it was a mistake by Disney and ABC.
The response to Kimmel's comments included widespread scrutiny and reactions from political figures. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr criticized Kimmel's remarks and threatened potential repercussions for the network. Meanwhile, Kimmel characterized Kirk's murder as a 'senseless tragedy' and condemned those who seemed to celebrate it.
Amid the ongoing debate around free speech, various reactions have emerged, including former President Obama’s comments denouncing government pressure on media companies and calls from FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez to ensure political violence does not justify censorship. Kimmel's return to the airwaves is set against an intense backdrop of political discourse surrounding media representation and accountability.
