Six days after Jimmy Kimmel Live! was abruptly placed on an indefinite hiatus, Jimmy Kimmel returned to his late-night stage Tuesday night with a mix of humor, reflection, and emotional candor.
The 57-year-old host opened his Sept. 23 monologue to loud cheers and chants of his name from the studio audience. Smiling, he began: “As I was saying before I was interrupted… If you’re just joining us, we’re preempting your regularly scheduled encore episode of Celebrity Family Feud to bring you this special report. I’m happy to be here tonight with you.”
Kimmel acknowledged the whirlwind of reactions following his suspension, joking that he’d heard from “every person I’ve ever met, including Larry, the guy who fired me from my first radio job in Seattle in 1989.” He thanked fellow late-night hosts, comedians, and even unlikely political figures across the spectrum who defended his right to free expression, from Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart to Ted Cruz and Ben Shapiro.
At the heart of his return, however, was Kimmel’s effort to clarify his comments about the Sept. 10 assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk during an event in Utah. The host insisted he never intended to make light of Kirk’s death or assign blame to any political group.
“It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel said, his tone turning serious. “Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make. But I understand why some felt it was ill-timed or unclear, and I get why people were upset.”
He condemned Kirk’s accused killer, Tyler Robinson, calling him a “sick individual” and emphasized that violence is never a solution. He also revealed that he and his family have faced “ugly and scary threats” in the past week.
Pivoting to broader concerns, Kimmel strongly criticized what he described as government attempts to silence comedians and journalists. He blasted FCC chairman Brendan Carr’s recent remarks as “a violation of the First Amendment” and warned against political interference in media.
“Our freedom to speak is what they admire most about this country,” Kimmel said, noting how comedians in other nations face prison for mocking leaders. “A government threat to silence a comedian the president doesn’t like is anti-American.”
Kimmel also referenced support from unexpected quarters, highlighting Ted Cruz’s defense of free speech. “I don’t think I’ve ever said this before, but Ted Cruz is right,” he quipped, adding: “If Ted Cruz can’t speak freely, then he can’t cast spells on the Smurfs.”
Visibly emotional, Kimmel ended by reflecting on forgiveness and unity, citing Erika Kirk’s decision to forgive her husband’s killer during his memorial service on Sept. 21. “That is an example we should follow,” he said, tearing up. “A selfless act of grace and forgiveness from a grieving widow. If there’s anything we should carry forward, I hope it can be that and not this.”
ABC had temporarily suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! after major broadcast groups Nexstar and Sinclair moved to preempt the program following Kimmel’s controversial remarks. Kirk, 31, was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University, and Robinson, 22, has been charged with aggravated murder.
Kimmel’s return was as much a defense of free speech as it was an apology for how his earlier words were received. Jimmy Kimmel Live! continues to air weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC.
