Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel returned to TV airwaves Tuesday night after his suspension over remarks he made over the assassination of right-wing media personality Charlie Kirk, sparking a fierce debate about free speech under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
Returning to the stage surrounded by applause from those in the audience, Kimmel thanked the crowd and said:
“Anyways, as I was saying before I was interrupted.”
In the highly anticipated episode of the 22-year-long running talk show, Kimmel discussed his time away from television, the people who reached out during his absence, and those who supported him and his show in recent days.
Kimmel, who was seemingly emotional during his monologue, addressed the controversy head-on.
“I don’t think what I have to say is going to make much of a difference, if you like me, you like me. If you don’t, you don’t, I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind.”
“But I do want to make something clear because it is important to me as a human, it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.”
Kimmel also noted it was not his intention to blame anyone other than the man accused in Kirk’s murder.
“I don’t think there is anything funny about it. I posted a message on Instagram the day he was killed sending love to his family and asking for compassion, and I meant it, I still do, nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual.”
Kimmel continued by saying: “I don’t think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone, this was a sick person who believed violence was a solution and it isn’t.”
Star-studded return episode
The episode also featured actor Robert De Niro making a guest appearance, parodying FCC Chair Brendan Carr.
Kimmel then discussed other news, such as Trump’s address to the United Nations and the president’s unproven suggestion that Tylenol during pregnancy is a possible link to autism in children.
“I’m not sure who had a weirder 48 hours, me or the CEO of Tylenol,” Kimmel joked.
Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan also made an appearance, performing “Better Broken,” the titular song of her latest album.
Kimmel addresses Trump
The late-night comedian didn’t shy away from joking about the president.
“You almost have to feel sorry for him, he tried his best to cancel me, but instead he forced millions of people to watch the show,” Kimmel told his audience Tuesday night.
“He might have to release the Epstein files to distract us from this now,” he quipped.
A debate surrounding free speech
“Should the government be allowed to regulate which podcasts the cellphone companies and Wi-Fi providers are allowed to let you download? To make sure they serve public interest?” Kimmel said.
In last Monday’s episode, which sparked the controversy, Kimmel made comments tying Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old man charged in Kirk’s death, to the Make America Great Again movement, then made a joke about Trump’s response to a question he was asked on the White House lawn about Kirk’s death.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr called the late-night host’s comments “truly sick” and suggested that ABC and Disney could face regulatory consequences, stating: “We could do this the easy way or the hard way.”
After the show’s cancellation, voices from across the United States began sharing their thoughts on the matter, ranging from politicians to celebrities.
Podcaster Joe Rogan, who was an influential supporter of Trump’s last presidential campaign, also commented on Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension in defence of the late-night comic.
“I definitely don’t think that the government should be involved ever in dictating what a comedian can or cannot say in a monologue,” Rogan said on the Tuesday edition of his podcast.
He said conservatives defending that kind of suspension were “crazy.”
“If people on the right are like ‘Yeah, go get ‘em,’ oh my god, you’re crazy,” Rogan said. “You’re crazy for supporting this. Because this will be used on you.”
Fellow late-night host Stephen Colbert celebrated Kimmel’s return during his own show .
“Once more, I am the only martyr in late night!” he said. “Unless … CBS, you want to announce anything? Still no? Right, ‘cause the money thing. I forgot.”
In July, CBS said that Colbert’s “Late Show” was cancelled for financial reasons, though the announcement came three days after Colbert criticized a $16-million settlement between Trump and Paramount Global, parent company of CBS, over a “60 Minutes” story.
Donald Trump commented on ABC’s decision to bring Kimmel back to late-night comedy on Truth Social.
“I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there,” said Trump, who also noted how they are going to test ABC following its decision to bring the show back after its initial cancellation.
“I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad ratings.”
Kimmel thanks supporters — and Erika Kirk
“That is an example we should follow,” said Kimmel, regarding Erika Kirk’s comments at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service, forgiving the man who allegedly shot and killed her husband.
Kimmel said that Trump’s actions were un-American, and that he sees unity from across the political spectrum.
“I’m so glad we have some solidarity on that from the left and right and from those in the middle like Joe Rogan, maybe the silver lining in this is that we found one thing we can agree on.”
“Maybe we can get a little bit closer together,” he continued. “We do agree on a lot of things, we agree on keeping our children safe from guns, from reproductive rights for women, social security, affordable health care, pediatric cancer research. These are things that most Americans support.”
