Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned to air on Tuesday after a six-day suspension over the host’s on-air comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The popular US late-night host was welcomed by applause and a standing ovation from his audience as he walked out on stage.
“I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind, but I do want to make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human, you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it,” Kimmel said during an opening monologue, his voice breaking.
“Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make,” Kimmel added, “But I understand that to some, that felt either ill-timed or unclear or maybe both.”
Last week, Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show was pulled “indefinitely” from ABC, owned by Disney, for his comments following the death of Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old right-wing activist and a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, who was fatally shot during a campaign event at a university in Utah.
Kimmel thanked people, including the audience and fellow talk show hosts, who supported and checked in with him, “It’s been overwhelming, I’ve heard from all the people in the world over the last six days.”
“Most of all, I want to thank the people who don’t support my show or what I believe, but support my right to share those beliefs anyway,” Kimmel continued, including a reference to Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
“It takes courage for them to speak out against this administration. They did and they deserve credit for it,” Kimmel added. “Our government cannot be allowed to control what we do and do not say on television, and that we have to stand up to.”
‘That’s not American. It’s unAmerican.’
Kimmel also critcised ABC affiliates who took his show off air. “That’s not legal. That’s not American. It’s unAmerican,” he said.
Trump-appointed Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr last week claimed Kimmel tried to “directly mislead the American public” with his comments about Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old man charged with Kirk’s killing.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said before ABC announced the suspension. “These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
US President Donald Trump, who hailed Kimmel’s suspension, has criticised his return.
“I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back … Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE,” he wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Trump’s administration has used threats, lawsuits and federal government pressure in an effort to gain greater control over the media industry. He’s previously filed lawsuits against ABC and CBS over their news coverage, which were ultimately settled.
Trump also filed defamation lawsuits against The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, and successfully pushed Congress to revoke federal funding for non-commercial public broadcasters NPR and PBS.
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