Jimmy Kimmel Told ‘Don’t Hold Back’ In First Post Since ABC Suspension

Jimmy Kimmel has a legion of free speech advocates egging him on!

The TV presenter made his first social media post since ABC suspended him and later announced his reinstatement. Under the politically motivated post, his supporters are urging him to never choose silence in the face of injustice.

Jimmy Kimmel was suspended by ABC’s parent company, Disney, last week, following the company’s claims that he made controversial and insensitive comments about Charlie Kirk.

Jimmy Kimmel Breaks Silence With Photo Of Renowned Activist Norman Lear

The media personality marked his return to social media with a picture of himself posing with Lear, who passed away in 2023. 

The late TV producer was known as an avid advocate of free speech and the First Amendment. He also created very popular television shows, such as “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons.”

In the caption posted alongside the picture, Kimmel shared that he particularly missed him today, perhaps due to his history of being on President Richard Nixon’s enemies list from 1969 to 1974.

It is no news that, decades later, in 2025, Kimmel has also found himself among President Donald Trump‘s least liked media personalities, alongside his pal, Stephen Colbert.

Fans And Friends Swarm To The Late-Night Host’s Comment In Support Of Free Speech

The star’s comment section was filled with a series of declarations and statements from his colleagues and friends, who encouraged him to continue his activism and not back down, despite the crackdown he experienced.

Comedian Rosie O’Donnell declared, “kill it tonight-feel all the love,” ahead of his return show, as another fan wrote, “please don’t hold back. We love you and welcome you back.”

Another follower noted that tonight might just be the highest rating of his television career. At the same time, a third commenter urged Kimmel to keep up with his energy and humble all the naysayers.

Well, a critic popped their head in the comments, informing the presenter that he is really not funny and hoped he learned a valuable lesson about lying before registering their doubt over Kimmel dropping his “political rhetoric.”

Kimmel’s Triumphant Return Sabotaged By Sinclair Inc.

While his fans have expressed hope for a ratings boost, a partner of the ABC network may hinder that, as they have decided not to air his show in approximately 40 cities.

The Blast noted that while Disney and ABC have greenlit Kimmel’s show and are ready to air it, Sinclair Inc. is not backing down on its initial resolve not to broadcast the show across dozens of its ABC affiliate stations.

Sinclair communicated that these affiliate stations will begin broadcasting local news starting Tuesday night. The establishment affirmed that the suspension of Kimmel’s show will stay that way until they conclude formal discussions with ABC about their “professionalism and accountability,” following Kimmel’s behavior.

The company’s largest station, WJLA in Washington, D.C., has also shut off access for politicians, journalists, and even the president.

Inside Disney’s Announcement About The 57-Year-Old’s Return To TV

The Walt Disney Company, after days of receiving mixed reviews about its decision to indefinitely take “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off air, announced on September 22 that the personality will return to the host seat the next day, Tuesday, September 23.

“Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” the statement from the company began. 

Disney added that after several deliberations and discussions with Kimmel and producers, they have decided to return to the status quo. Top executives at the company, including Dana Walden and Bob Iger, were among the team that reinstated the star.

While Disney did not confirm if Kimmel will issue any apologies, they did admit that his comments were insensitive and came at a terrible time. 

The company earned knocks and praises from several quarters, including Megyn Kelly, who stated, “Must be nice to be a leftist. ‘Cancellation’ lasts 5 nights, and you’re right back under klieg lights. On the right, you’re underground.”

Zohran Mamdani described Kimmel’s return as a significant win for the concept of free speech in America, noting that Disney had finally found the courage.

Will There Be More Drama For ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’?

Sal Lacono, who also works as a writer for Kimmel’s show, dropped hints that more drama may follow his cousin’s return to the show.

Describing the suspension and reversal as a very emotional situation, Lacono noted that the staff have a lot of exclusive information about everything, and the coming days hold a lot of uncertainty.

He added that while this knowledge exists, the staffers and Kimmel himself may not be able to discuss it. As shared by The Blast, Lacono affirmed that whatever happens to his cousin’s career on the show, he would excel in almost any field he ventures into.

Insiders at the network have shared that Kimmel was somewhat due for a suspension, as his frequent, brazenly political remarks have given the producers headaches for a while now.

The station was already considering letting the host go after the end of his current season due to his stance, which could impact their market presence.

However, another faction claims that now that the government has shown its hand, Kimmel may be more energized than ever to get on Trump’s nerves, and hence, he may not retire anytime soon.

All fingers are crossed as to how Jimmy Kimmel will go about his first show since the return announcement!