- Jimmy Kimmel suspended after jokes about Charlie Kirk’s death.
- Disney pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live citing “insensitive” timing of comments.
- FCC chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC’s broadcast licence.
- Trump supported suspension, but avoided comment on reinstatement.
- Nexstar and Sinclair pulled Kimmel’s show from their stations.
- Writers, actors, ACLU, and celebrities slammed decision as censorship.
- Kimmel to return to air Tuesday; has not spoken publicly on suspension.
Jimmy Kimmel is set to return to Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday, bringing an end to a stormy week of suspension sparked by comments he made about the death of conservative figure Charlie Kirk.
Disney, which owns ABC, announced on Monday that it had reached an agreement with the comedian after “thoughtful conversations,” saying it believed some of his jokes had been poorly timed but confirming that the late-night show will resume.
The suspension ignited a nationwide debate about free speech after Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), warned that ABC’s licence could be at risk over Kimmel’s remarks. Carr argued that the monologue went beyond comedy, accusing the host of deliberately misleading viewers.
Former President Donald Trump welcomed the suspension, even suggesting that other television networks should lose their licences for negative coverage of him. However, he sidestepped questions about Kimmel’s reinstatement when pressed by reporters at a White House event.
The backlash was swift. Nexstar Media, one of America’s largest station groups, immediately pulled the show, and Sinclair — ABC’s biggest affiliate — soon followed. With pressure mounting, ABC announced an “indefinite” suspension, prompting protests in California and sharp criticism from lawmakers, Hollywood unions, and the ACLU.
Dozens of celebrities rallied behind Kimmel, including Ben Stiller, Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep, and Robert De Niro, who all signed a joint letter describing the move as “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.” Fellow late-night hosts Jon Stewart, John Oliver, and Stephen Colbert also voiced solidarity.
The controversy began on September 15, when Kimmel mocked Trump’s response to Kirk’s death and accused Trump supporters of attempting to spin the tragedy for political gain. At one point, he compared Trump’s reaction to “how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
For now, Disney appears ready to put the firestorm behind them, but questions remain over whether the FCC will continue its scrutiny and whether station groups like Nexstar will bring Kimmel back on air.
Kimmel himself has not yet commented publicly on the suspension or the uproar it caused.
