Disney Company has announced that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will return to ABC on Tuesday, following a brief suspension sparked by controversy over comments made by Kimmel about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel’s show was pulled from the air last Wednesday after Kirk’s shooting death in Utah, which conservatives blamed on “the radical left.” Kimmel had criticized the response of some conservatives, including President Donald Trump, saying, “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of somebody called a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.” Following this, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr threatened the licenses of ABC affiliates that broadcast Kimmel’s show, prompting Nexstar and Sinclair to remove the show from their stations.
After “thoughtful conversations” with Kimmel, Disney decided to reinstate the show, stating, “We felt some comments were ill-timed and insensitive, but we’ve reached a decision to return the show on Tuesday.” The decision to bring back the show comes after over 400 Hollywood stars, including Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and Jennifer Aniston, signed an open letter condemning the suspension as a “dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
The controversy highlights ongoing concerns about government influence over media content and the potential erosion of free speech. Sinclair, a major owner of local TV stations, has announced that it will continue to preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on its ABC affiliates, replacing it with news programming. This development underscores the complex dynamics between media outlets, government pressure, and the protection of free speech