Kimmel's return to ABC marked by criticism of an 'anti-American' Trump
5 Min Read
Jimmy Kimmel resumed his late-night show after a suspension by ABC, calling efforts to silence comedians "anti-American".
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Jimmy Kimmel speaks at the Oscars in Los Angeles on February 26, 2017. (AP)
Jimmy Kimmel slammed the United States government's censorship of comedians as "anti-American" as he made his return to his live show on ABC network, following a brief suspension triggered by remarks made about the shooting of Charlie Kirk.
“This show is not important,” Kimmel said during his opening monologue. “What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
The Trump-Kimmel controversy intensified after Kimmel’s September 15 monologue, in which he criticized the political exploitation of the Charlie Kirk shooting by right-wing figures. In his remarks, Kimmel said the “MAGA gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”
Following the broadcast, Trump administration officials reportedly pressured Disney to act. Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), threatened ABC’s affiliate licenses. Two major broadcast groups, Nexstar and Sinclair, subsequently pulled the show from their stations, prompting Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden to suspend the program.
Kimmel regrets remarks
On his return, Kimmel addressed the controversy directly, expressing regret that his comments may have been interpreted as insensitive.
“I do want to make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human and that is, you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel said. “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.”
He emphasized that he did not intend to assign blame to a specific group, stating, “That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make, but I understand that to some that felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both.”
ABC under attack
Disney's ABC censorship decision sparked widespread backlash from Hollywood figures, media personalities, unions, and even some Republicans, including Senator Ted Cruz.
On Monday, before Kimmel’s return was confirmed, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) published an open letter signed by over 400 public figures, including Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Ben Affleck, and Robert De Niro, calling Disney’s suspension of Kimmel “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
In its statement, Disney defended the decision, saying it was made “to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.” The company cited concerns about “ill-timed and insensitive” remarks but confirmed it had “thoughtful conversations” with Kimmel before deciding to resume the show.
Kimmel show still not fully back
Despite the program’s return to ABC, the late-night show controversy continues. Sinclair Broadcasting Group, which owns the largest number of ABC affiliate stations in the US, announced that it would not resume airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! unless Kimmel apologized to Kirk’s family and donated to his activist organization, Turning Point USA.
Nexstar, which operates ABC affiliates in 22 states and is currently pursuing a $6.2 billion merger, also confirmed it would continue to preempt the program. Both companies cited concerns over national discourse and insisted on a commitment to “respectful, constructive dialogue.”
As a result, nearly a quarter of ABC affiliate stations did not air Kimmel’s return.
Trump's 'anti-American' shenanigans
Kimmel used his return to thank supporters and fellow late-night hosts, while also acknowledging those who disagree with him but defend his right to speak.
“And most of all, I want to thank the people who don’t support my show and what I believe, but support my right to share those beliefs anyway,” he said.
He went on to criticize the broader threat to free speech under the Trump administration. “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. Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke.”
“One thing I did learn from Lenny Bruce and George Carlin and Howard Stern, is that a government threat to silence a comedian the President doesn’t like is anti-American,” he added.
Call for forgiveness
Kimmel closed his monologue by referencing remarks made by Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, at her late husband’s memorial.
“Erika Kirk forgave the man who shot her husband,” Kimmel said. “That is an example we should follow. It touched me deeply. And if there’s anything we should take from this tragedy to carry forward, I hope it can be that, not this.”
Read more: Trump turns Kirk Memorial into partisan rally, stoking tensions
