'Jimmy Kimmel Live! ' Set to Resume After Brief Suspension Over Charlie Kirk Remarks

ABC and its parent company Disney have announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to air on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, following an indefinite suspension that began last week. The show was pulled after host Jimmy Kimmel made controversial remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

What Led to the Suspension

The trouble started when Kimmel, during his September 15 monologue, criticized what he called political exploitation of Charlie Kirk’s killing. He said that people in “MAGA land” were trying to portray the shooter in that incident as “anything other than one of them.”

Following that, several ABC affiliates (including major groups like Nexstar and Sinclair) pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from their schedules. The move was also influenced by rhetoric from the FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who threatened possible license actions against ABC if the show wasn’t addressed.

ABC said the suspension was necessary to “avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” calling some of Kimmel’s remarks “ill-timed and thus insensitive.”

Decision to Return

After several days of discussions between Disney leadership and Kimmel, the network decided to resume production. In their joint statement, they said the conversation had been “thoughtful,” and the decision to suspend was reconsidered in light of concerns about free speech, backlash from entertainment circles, and public reaction.

Continuing Fallout & Coverage Uncertainties

Even as the show returns, there are lingering issues:

• Sinclair Broadcast Group has stated its intent not to air Jimmy Kimmel Live! on its ABC stations when it returns, unless certain conditions are met. These include demands such as an apology or donations to Charlie Kirk’s family or organizations connected to him.

• Nexstar Media, another major ABC affiliate group that had paused the show, similarly had preempted it during the suspension. Whether all affiliates will resume airing it when it returns remains unclear.

• The incident has sparked a nationwide debate on free speech, political pressure, regulatory power, and what boundaries exist for late-night comedy when it touches on highly sensitive or political topics.

What It Means

The brief suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and its subsequent return illustrates the tensions that exist now between media companies, hosts, audiences, regulatory bodies, and political stakeholders. It shows that even established entertainment platforms are not insulated from political consequence or regulatory scrutiny. At the same time, the pushback from the public, celebrities, and free-speech groups signals that many see this as more than a ratings or programming issue—it’s also seen through the lens of First Amendment debates.