NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Kimmel offered no apologies in his return to late-night television and, in an emotional monologue where he appeared close to tears, said he was not trying to joke about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He also paid tribute to Kirk’s widow.
Nearly 8 million people had watched Kimmel’s first show back from a nearly one-week suspension on YouTube by midmorning Wednesday. Typically, he gets about 1.8 million viewers each night on television. Ratings were due to be released later in the day.
In his first public comments following the suspension, Kimmel did not hesitate to joke about his frequent foil, President Donald Trump, and credited him for what is expected to be a ratings bonanza. “He tried,” Kimmel said. “He did his best to cancel me. Instead, he forced millions of people to watch the show. That backfired bigly.”
Kimmel explained, “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.” He said Kirk’s widow, Erika, performed a “selfless act of grace” in publicly forgiving her husband’s killer.
He continued: “I don’t think what I’m going to say is going to make much of a difference. If you like me, you like me. If you don’t, you don’t. I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind.”
Criticism followed Kimmel's remarks, as Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, deemed Kimmel’s monologue “not good enough.” Meanwhile, actor Ben Stiller praised it as a "brilliant monologue.” Kimmel’s emotional return stirred national discussions about freedom of speech and the impact of Trump's criticism on media personalities.
Kimmel's return was met with a warm reception from the audience, who chanted “Jimmy, Jimmy” as he took the stage. One audience member remarked that his tribute to Kirk’s widow was a “very moving moment” that touched both him and his wife deeply.
Nearly 8 million people had watched Kimmel’s first show back from a nearly one-week suspension on YouTube by midmorning Wednesday. Typically, he gets about 1.8 million viewers each night on television. Ratings were due to be released later in the day.
In his first public comments following the suspension, Kimmel did not hesitate to joke about his frequent foil, President Donald Trump, and credited him for what is expected to be a ratings bonanza. “He tried,” Kimmel said. “He did his best to cancel me. Instead, he forced millions of people to watch the show. That backfired bigly.”
Kimmel explained, “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.” He said Kirk’s widow, Erika, performed a “selfless act of grace” in publicly forgiving her husband’s killer.
He continued: “I don’t think what I’m going to say is going to make much of a difference. If you like me, you like me. If you don’t, you don’t. I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind.”
Criticism followed Kimmel's remarks, as Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, deemed Kimmel’s monologue “not good enough.” Meanwhile, actor Ben Stiller praised it as a "brilliant monologue.” Kimmel’s emotional return stirred national discussions about freedom of speech and the impact of Trump's criticism on media personalities.
Kimmel's return was met with a warm reception from the audience, who chanted “Jimmy, Jimmy” as he took the stage. One audience member remarked that his tribute to Kirk’s widow was a “very moving moment” that touched both him and his wife deeply.
