September 24, 2025

Hold your breath, TV fans! ABC has decided to bring back Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show after it was suddenly pulled off the air. What caused this drama? It all began with Kimmel’s bold comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk earlier this month. ABC said they had “thoughtful conversations with Jimmy” and chose to return the show on Tuesday. But this return is not without sparks! Two of ABC’s biggest affiliate owners, Nexstar and Sinclair, have refused to air the show. These stations cover around 25% of ABC’s affiliates, so the impact is huge. Here’s the lowdown: Kimmel did not just talk about Kirk, who was close to former President Donald Trump. He aimed at Trump and his so-called “MAGA Gang” supporters for their reaction to Kirk’s death on September 10. After ABC halted 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', Sinclair announced they’d replace the show with news programming while they continue talks with ABC. Nexstar demands “assurances that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue.” Andrew Kolvert from Turning Point USA, Kirk’s group, slammed ABC’s decision, saying, “Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmel back on the air is not surprising, but it's their mistake to make. Nexstar and Sinclair do not have to make the same choice.” Kimmel, whose contract runs till May 2026, has not directly commented on the suspension or return. Why was the show suspended in the first place? ABC initially only said Kimmel’s “problematic comments regarding the murder of Charlie Kirk” caused trouble. Later, Disney explained they paused the show to avoid making a tense moment in the country worse, calling some comments “ill-timed and thus insensitive.” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called Kimmel’s remarks “truly sick” and warned of possible consequences for the network. Yet, Carr later denied threatening to take away ABC’s licenses. So, what exactly did Kimmel say? After the tragic Utah shooting, he called Kirk’s death a “senseless murder” and criticized both those who celebrated it and Trump for blaming the “radical left.” He accused the MAGA crowd of trying to say the killer was not one of them to score political points. He called Trump’s mourning “how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish,” a bold jab not everyone liked. Kimmel also mocked Vice President JD Vance hosting Kirk’s podcast. As expected, Trump cheered ABC for suspending Kimmel and attacked the host on his Truth Social platform, calling him talentless and criticizing late-night TV stars for their ratings. Public reactions have been fiery. Former President Obama warned the current government is reaching “a new and dangerous level” by threatening media companies to silence voices. Megyn Kelly called Kimmel’s comments a “vile, disgusting lie.” Actress Jean Smart defended Kimmel, saying, “What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech. People seem to only want to protect free speech when it suits THEIR agenda.” Taking sides further, Congressional Democrats pushed a bill to protect free speech from government pressure and Senate leader Chuck Schumer asked for Carr’s firing. The fight over Kimmel’s show shows the fiery battle over media, politics, and free speech is far from over!

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Tags: Jimmy kimmel, Abc, Charlie kirk, Censorship, Free speech, Maga,