Audience members wait in line to enter the Jimmy Kimmel Live studio in Los Angeles, on September 23, 2025. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Jimmy Kimmel is back on his late-night stage — and full of emotion.

After a nearly week-long suspension, the ABC star taped a new episode on Tuesday evening, and he spoke at length about the controversy that enveloped the show, according to audience members who spoke with CNN afterward.

There were several minutes of applause when Kimmel walked out on stage. The eruption of support was so loud “it was ear damaging to be honest,” Kevin Winhard said.

Then came Kimmel’s monologue, the comedian’s first public statement in nearly a week.

Last Wednesday, in a head-spinning move, Kimmel was sidelined by ABC shortly after the Trump administration official resp

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