Nearly one week after his indefinite suspension, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel returned to “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on ABC on Sept. 23. His return monologue ignited conversations about the role of comedians in shaping political and cultural discourse in the scope of freedom of speech.
“It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man [Charlie Kirk]. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it,” said Kimmel, during his return monologue. “Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual… I get why you’re upset. If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I’d have felt the same way.”
ABC and its parent company, Disney, faced pressure from both conservative commentators and free-speech advocates, raising questions about how networks balance public interest, corporate concerns and creative independence.
Kimmel’s return, however, initially faced resistance from major affiliates. Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group preempted “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” even after ABC reinstated the host. Nonetheless, on Sept. 26, both companies released statements that the program would return to the air.
“We have had discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company and appreciate their constructive approach to addressing our concerns,” said Nexstar in its statement. “As a local broadcaster, Nexstar remains committed to protecting the First Amendment…airing local and national news that is fact-based and unbiased and, above all, broadcasting content that is in the best interest of the communities we serve.”
Sinclair emphasized community responsibility and accountability in a statement they released on a press release.
“Our objective…has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience,” Sinclair wrote. “We have received thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives…Sinclair proposed measures to strengthen accountability, viewer feedback, and community dialogue.”
Earlier this year, CBS canceled Stephen Colbert’s show after backlash to a politically motivated segment, raising questions about the role of political humor in public engagement.
“Now, I believe that this kind of complicated financial settlement with a sitting government official has a technical name in legal circles, it’s a big fat bribe…this all comes as Paramount’s owners are trying to get the Trump administration to approve the sale of our network to a new owner,” said Colbert in his segment on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.”
The situation illustrates how shifts in audience expectations and network priorities are rewriting the direction of late-night programming.
Reactions to Kimmel’s suspension and subsequent return remain divided. The Writers Guild of America West condemned ABC’s decision as “corporate cowardice.” Meanwhile, President Donald Trump praised the suspension on Truth Social, saying ABC had “finally had the courage to do what had to be done.”
Kimmel closed his monologue by highlighting the fragile balance between comedy and controversy.
“This show is not important. What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this” said Kimmel during his return monologue.