ABC announced on Monday that it will reinstate Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" following backlash over his comments regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The network stated, "We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday."

Kimmel was suspended indefinitely after making remarks during a monologue about Kirk, who was killed on September 10. He stated, "many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk" and criticized the portrayal of the suspect as anything other than part of the same group.

Kimmel has been a prominent figure in television since 2003 and has hosted the Academy Awards four times. His comments sparked immediate backlash, leading Nexstar and Sinclair, two major ABC affiliate owners, to announce they would pull his show from their stations. However, several comedians defended Kimmel amid the controversy.

Former President Donald Trump, a frequent target of Kimmel's humor, reacted to the suspension on social media, calling it "great news for America" and suggesting that other late-night hosts should also be dismissed.

In a summer interview with Variety, Kimmel expressed concerns about potential government crackdowns on comedians, stating, "Well, you’d have to be naive not to worry a little bit. But that can’t change what you’re doing."

Kimmel's suspension occurred during a period of heightened scrutiny of media figures by the Trump administration, which has pursued various legal actions against media outlets. Brendan Carr, the head of the Federal Communications Commission, issued a warning prior to Kimmel's suspension, stating, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. 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."

The late-night television landscape is also shifting, with CBS recently announcing the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show. Kimmel's contract with ABC is set to expire in May 2026.

The decision to reinstate Kimmel came as over 430 Hollywood and Broadway stars signed an open letter from the American Civil Liberties Union, urging Americans to defend their constitutionally protected rights. The letter described the situation as "a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation."

On the same day, ABC's "The View" addressed the controversy, with co-host Whoopi Goldberg stating, "No one silences us," as she and her fellow hosts criticized Disney's decision regarding Kimmel.