Jimmy Kimmel finally returned to the airwaves after a brief suspension, sparked by his comments about Charlie Kirk’s death. During his first show back, Kimmel fought back tears as he attempted to clarify his statement, emphasizing that he never intended to make light of the young activist’s murder.
Kimmel’s Emotional Explanation
Kimmel expressed his condolences to Kirk’s family, referencing a post he made on Instagram sending love to them. “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” he said, visibly emotional. “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.” Despite this, Kimmel stopped short of directly apologizing for his comments.
The Controversy
The controversy surrounding Kimmel’s comments began when he criticized the “MAGA gang” for trying to portray the suspect in Kirk’s killing in a favorable light. ABC’s parent company, Disney, suspended the show to “avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotionally charged moment for the country.” Sinclair and Nexstar stations, which account for about a third of ABC’s affiliates, refused to air the program, citing concerns over Kimmel’s comments.
Conditions for Reinstatement
Sinclair had set conditions for Kimmel’s show to return, including a direct apology to the Kirk family and a meaningful personal donation to them and Turning Point USA. However, Kimmel refused to apologize, with sources indicating he is “unwilling to apologize for his remarks” and is “absolutely f—— livid” about the show’s suspension.
Kimmel’s Show Returns with New Segments
Despite the controversy, Kimmel welcomed back guests Glenn Powell and singer Sarah McLachlan. Powell expressed his support for Kimmel, saying he was “honored” and “glad” the host was back. Kimmel ended the show with a lighthearted joke, “I think we’ll be back tomorrow night, see you then.”
Criticism of Donald Trump
Kimmel also took the opportunity to criticize Donald Trump, branding him a humorless enemy of free speech. “The President of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs,” Kimmel said. “Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke.” This statement highlights the ongoing tension between Kimmel and Trump.
