NEW YORK (AP) — ABC will reinstate Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show after the network pulled the host off the air indefinitely in the wake of criticism over Kimmel’s comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk earlier this month.
Officials with the network said in a statement Monday that they had “thoughtful conversations with Jimmy” and that they “reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”
Kimmel’s comments did not extensively focus on Kirk, who was a close ally of President Donald Trump. They took aim at Trump and what Kimmel called his “MAGA Gang” of supporters for their response to the killing. Reacting to Kimmel’s comments, two of ABC’s largest affiliate owners, Nexstar and Sinclair, said they would be pulling the show from their affiliated stations. ABC later suspended the show.
In an announcement regarding Kimmel’s reinstatement, Andrew Kolvert, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, the organization founded by Kirk, said on social media that the network’s decision shows their inability to stand firm against public pressure.
Kimmel’s contract with ABC is set to expire in May 2026, and he opted not to provide immediate comments on the suspension or his reinstatement.
Why was Kimmel’s show suspended and then reinstated?
Initially, ABC did not explain the reasons for the suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” But Nexstar and Sinclair cited “offensive and insensitive” comments as their justification for withdrawing the show.
In a further statement, ABC clarified their position: “We made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.”
