After being pulled off the air by ABC last week, Jimmy Kimmel is resuming his late-night show on Tuesday night, according to announcements from Disney and ABC. The suspension came after Kimmel made controversial remarks regarding the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, sparking backlash from conservative media, ABC affiliate groups, and regulatory pressure.
Why He Was Suspended & What Led to the Return
ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! “indefinitely” on September 17, citing that the comments were “ill-timed” and potentially “insensitive,” especially during a national moment of heightened emotional and political tension. Part of the pushback came from major ABC affiliates like Sinclair and Nexstar, who pulled the show from their stations pending further clarification or action. Regulatory pressure was also involved — the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr publicly criticized Kimmel’s remarks and hinted at possible consequences for ABC and its affiliates.
Over the weekend, Disney says it engaged in “thoughtful conversations” with Kimmel, and after those talks, decided to reinstate the show.
Even though ABC is lifting the suspension and returning Jimmy Kimmel Live! to its schedule, not all affiliate stations will immediately carry the show. Sinclair has announced it will not air Kimmel’s show on its ABC-affiliated stations for now, instead filling the slot with news programming. Nexstar is also withholding the show in certain markets. So while the show is back, reach will still be limited in some regions.
Many commentators and public figures are framing the incident as a test of free speech and media responsibility. The decision to pull Kimmel briefly appears to have had financial and reputational consequences for their parent company, Disney, which allegedly saw stock‐value losses amid the controversy. Some affiliates want more than just the show being reinstated—they are demanding a formal apology and even monetary contributions to Charlie Kirk’s family and/or Turning Point USA before they resume broadcast.
