Jimmy Kimmel will return to late-night television this Tuesday after ABC parent company Disney confirmed his show will resume production, less than a week after being pulled off the air following backlash over remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The suspension came after Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, condemned Kimmel’s comments about Kirk’s assassination, labeling them inappropriate and inflammatory. On a recent broadcast, Kimmel had said, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
Carr reportedly pressured Disney and ABC affiliates to reconsider airing the program, warning stations about possible regulatory complications. Nexstar, one of the nation’s largest local TV station owners currently seeking FCC approval for a multibillion-dollar merger with TEGNA, quickly dropped the show from its lineup.
Disney explained its decision in a statement provided to NPR, saying, “Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.” The company added that while it understood the sensitivity of Kimmel’s remarks, it had since engaged in “thoughtful conversations” with the host and agreed to move forward.
The suspension sparked immediate backlash from Hollywood and beyond. Over the weekend, hundreds of entertainers, including Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and Marvel and Star Wars actor Pedro Pascal, signed an open letter criticizing Disney’s decision. The letter, coordinated with the ACLU, also carried signatures from Selena Gomez and Olivia Rodrigo, both of whom launched their careers under the Disney brand.
The letter stated in part, “This runs counter to the values our nation was built upon, and our Constitution guarantees … Regardless of our political affiliation, or whether we engage in politics or not, we all love our country. We also share the belief that our voices should never be silenced by those in power – because if it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.”
Kimmel’s reinstatement marks a rare reversal by a major network under political pressure, placing the comedian back at the center of an ongoing debate over free speech, corporate responsibility, and the boundaries of political commentary in entertainment.