Emotional Kimmel Clarifies Intent After Kirk’s Tragic Death

Jimmy Kimmel made his return to late-night television following a nearly week-long suspension. His emotional comeback almost saw him in tears as he clarified that his previous remarks were not intended to make light of the tragic death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

“I never meant to belittle the murder of a young man,” Kimmel expressed, his voice wavering. “There’s nothing humorous about it.”

He further explained, “It was not my goal to attribute blame to any particular group for the actions of what is clearly a deeply disturbed individual. My intent was quite the opposite.” Kimmel acknowledged that some viewers found his comments “ill-timed or confusing.”

‘As I was saying…’ – Kimmel makes a heartfelt return to TV.

Kimmel criticized the ABC affiliates for their decision to pull his show from the air, calling it “not legal… it’s un-American.”

Following criticism over Kimmel’s comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, ABC announced on Monday that his show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, would be back. The network emphasized that they had engaged in “thoughtful conversations” with the host.

His viewer numbers were notably impacted as some ABC affiliates elected not to air his show, affecting audiences in cities like St. Louis, Nashville, and Richmond. Sinclair and Nexstar, two corporations, control a significant portion of ABC affiliates.

In a humorous take on Kimmel’s return, Stephen Colbert remarked on his CBS show, “Our long national late-night nightmare is over.”

Kimmel, who had remained silent during his suspension, shared an image on Instagram with the late television producer and advocate for free speech, Norman Lear, stating, “Missing this guy today.”

ABC had imposed an “indefinite” suspension on Kimmel after he suggested that certain Trump supporters were attempting to exploit Kirk’s death for their gain, portraying the man who murdered him in a more favorable light.

Criticism from the FCC chairman

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr recently accused Kimmel of trying to “mislead the American public” with his statements about 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who was charged in connection with Kirk’s death. Despite having a conservative upbringing, Robinson’s political views reportedly shifted leftward over the past year.

Carr asserted, “These companies can act decisively on Kimmel, or the FCC may take further steps,” hinting at potential repercussions for ABC following Kimmel’s remarks.

This remark led to backlash, with Sen. Ted Cruz criticizing Carr’s approach, labelling it “mafia-like.” Many prominent figures, including Tom Hanks and Barbra Streisand, voiced their support for Kimmel, condemning the suspension as a threat to free speech.

Podcast host Joe Rogan also showed his solidarity with Kimmel: “The government shouldn’t dictate what a comedian can say or not say in a monologue,” he argued, cautioning against supporting such restrictions.

In response to the controversy, some fans have opted to cancel their subscriptions to Disney’s streaming services.

Kimmel’s return with friendly faces

Kimmel will welcome at least one familiar face back to his show. Singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, who had earlier withdrawn from a performance in protest over Kimmel’s suspension, is set to appear as a musical guest.

Joining her will be actor Glen Powell, who was already scheduled for the week before Kimmel’s suspension, promoting his Hulu project. Former NFL star Peyton Manning will also make an appearance.

Officials from Disney and ABC reportedly engaged in discussions for days prior to confirming Kimmel’s return. Although the network indicated that some of Kimmel’s comments were “ill-timed,” they stopped short of labeling them misleading.

Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, the organization founded by Kirk, criticized ABC’s decision to reinstate Kimmel as a misstep.