Kimmel from Jimmy Kimmel Live! made his return to ABC (Disney) following his latest controversy. The network suspended the show indefinitely following his on-air remarks.
Kimmel criticised the political response by Trump regarding Charlie Kirk and accused the “MAGA gang” of Kirk’s murder. His comments sparked backlash, with Disney citing their concern as being centered around the ill-timing and sensitivity of the topic.
His suspension was announced after pressure from major station operators (Nextstar, Sinclair), regulatory officials, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
Numerous Hollywood and political figures such as Barack Obama, former DIsney CEO Michael Eisner, and many late-night TV hosts stood behind Kimmel, propelling them to sign an open letter supporting Kimmel’s free speech.
The sudden suspension ignited public outrage. During this period Disney received increasing backlash and cancellations in subscriptions.
However after discussions with Disney, Kimmel returned six days later, delivering an emotional response stating that he had no intention to make light of Kirk’s death.
His comeback monologue garnered 14 million views on Youtube and 5.7 million on Instagram, bringing the show its highest ratings in a decade.
