An emotional Jimmy Kimmel has criticized 'anti-American' threats to free speech during his return to late-night US television - following a brief suspension after comments he made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The comedian said during Tuesday's show - his first since the controversy - that 'it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man'. Kimmel also compared Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr to a mob boss, and poked fun at President Donald Trump's appearance at the UN, including an escalator mishap.
However, Tuesday's episode was not viewable in all markets, due to resistance from many local stations affiliated with ABC. It was, however, available on streaming service Hulu + Live TV, owned by Disney - which is also the parent of ABC. Dozens of local TV stations in the US run by affiliates Nexstar and Sinclair said they would continue to replace Jimmy Kimmel Live! with alternate programming for now.
Carr, who leads the organization that regulates American television, praised their decision in a post on X. 'We need to keep empowering local TV stations to serve their communities of license,' said Carr, who last week threatened action against Disney and ABC, the companies that produce and air Kimmel's show.
Kimmel said he had not wanted to blame any specific group for Kirk's murder, praising Erika Kirk for forgiving her husband's alleged killer at a weekend memorial service. 'It was a selfless act of grace... that touched me deeply,' Kimmel said.
In his show, Kimmel criticized Carr, noting that he was previously a free speech advocate but seemed to have changed his stance after Kimmel's controversial comments. He also took aim at Trump for suggesting the dismissal of late-night hosts who criticize him, labeling such sentiments as 'un-American' and 'dangerous'.
Kimmel humorously noted an alleged statement from Disney about reactivating one's Disney+ subscription, alluding to the pressures surrounding his return. Around an hour before airtime, Trump expressed disbelief over Kimmel's reinstatement, commenting that the audience had likely diminished and hinted at testing ABC's audience in response to Kimmel's comments.
The debate surrounding Kimmel's suspension and the broader implications for free speech continues to stir reactions across the media landscape, highlighting the potential conflicts between humor, commentary, and public sentiment.
However, Tuesday's episode was not viewable in all markets, due to resistance from many local stations affiliated with ABC. It was, however, available on streaming service Hulu + Live TV, owned by Disney - which is also the parent of ABC. Dozens of local TV stations in the US run by affiliates Nexstar and Sinclair said they would continue to replace Jimmy Kimmel Live! with alternate programming for now.
Carr, who leads the organization that regulates American television, praised their decision in a post on X. 'We need to keep empowering local TV stations to serve their communities of license,' said Carr, who last week threatened action against Disney and ABC, the companies that produce and air Kimmel's show.
Kimmel said he had not wanted to blame any specific group for Kirk's murder, praising Erika Kirk for forgiving her husband's alleged killer at a weekend memorial service. 'It was a selfless act of grace... that touched me deeply,' Kimmel said.
In his show, Kimmel criticized Carr, noting that he was previously a free speech advocate but seemed to have changed his stance after Kimmel's controversial comments. He also took aim at Trump for suggesting the dismissal of late-night hosts who criticize him, labeling such sentiments as 'un-American' and 'dangerous'.
Kimmel humorously noted an alleged statement from Disney about reactivating one's Disney+ subscription, alluding to the pressures surrounding his return. Around an hour before airtime, Trump expressed disbelief over Kimmel's reinstatement, commenting that the audience had likely diminished and hinted at testing ABC's audience in response to Kimmel's comments.
The debate surrounding Kimmel's suspension and the broader implications for free speech continues to stir reactions across the media landscape, highlighting the potential conflicts between humor, commentary, and public sentiment.
