Jimmy Kimmel Returns to ABC with Emotional Monologue Addressing Charlie Kirk Controversy
Jimmy Kimmel made a striking return to TV defenses on Tuesday night, following a week-long suspense over his reflections regarding the murder of Charlie Kirk.
The late-night host, an institution in American entertainment since 2003 and a four-time Oscars host, opened Jimmy Kimmel Live! with a sincere and reflective harangue.
During his return, Kimmel addressed the controversy head-on. “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” he stated.
Disney, the parent company of ABC, temporarily pulled the show, describing the remarks as “ill-timed and thus insensitive.”
The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel drew public attention, with US President Donald Trump backing the move and suggesting some networks should have their licences abandoned over perceived anti-Trump content.
In a show of solidarity, hundreds of Hollywood stars, including Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro, inked a letter supporting Kimmel. His comeback occasion paid homage to that support.
This is a monumental failure by Donald Trump.
Tonight Jimmy Kimmel is being watched by nearly everyone on the planet either on Television or here on social media. And he is standing up to the president like no one before.
Tonight is a historic night.
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) September 24, 2025
Kimmel offered a tearful apology for any offence caused. “It was never my intention to make light of the murder and it may have been an ill-timed statement,” he admitted.
The host emphasised that he never sought to blame a specific group for Kirk’s death, and praised Erika Kirk’s act of forgiveness during a memorial over the weekend.
The comedian also thanked his critics who defended his right to free speech, including notable conservatives who disagreed with him politically but opposed his suspension.
Kimmel took aim at FCC chair Brendan Carr, one of the first to call for his suspension, and took a swipe at Donald Trump for targeting his fellow late-night hosts.
In a playful skit, Robert De Niro appeared as the “new chairman of the FCC”, quipping: “Speech, it ain’t free no more.” Actor Glen Powell, Kimmel’s first guest of the night, expressed relief and delight: “I’m just so happy you’re back.”
Early in his monologue, Kimmel joked about Trump’s unverified claim linking paracetamol in pregnancy to autism: “I’m not sure who had a weirder 48 hours – me or the CEO of Tylenol.”
He also reflected on support received during the suspension: “Maybe, weirdly, most of all I want to thank the people who don’t support my show and what I believe but support my right to share those beliefs anyway – people I never would have imagined.”
Kimmel closed the segment by highlighting the contrast between Trump’s past praise for free speech and his recent criticism, pointing to a 2022 clip of the former president extolling free expression, followed by last week’s dismissal of Kimmel as having “no talent and no ratings,” to which Kimmel responded: “Tonight I do.”
Tuesday night’s episode marked a powerful return, blending humour with sincerity, and reminded audiences why Jimmy Kimmel remains a central figure in US late-night television.
