Disney has confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel Live will return to ABC on Tuesday, ending nearly a week of suspension following a controversy sparked by Kimmel’s remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Disney’s Explanation
The late-night show was abruptly pulled from the schedule last Wednesday after sharp criticism from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr and pushback from major station groups, including Nexstar.
In a statement released Monday, Disney, ABC’s parent company, explained its decision:
“Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. 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 himself has remained silent, with neither he nor his team issuing a statement since the show was pulled.
The Backlash
The controversy stems from comments Kimmel made last Monday, in which he criticized the “MAGA Gang” for trying to distance itself from the individual accused of killing Charlie Kirk. He further accused the group of attempting to “score political points” from the tragedy.
The remarks triggered condemnation from FCC chairman Carr and a swift reaction from Nexstar, which owns hundreds of local stations across the U.S. Nexstar said it would preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live, with Sinclair quickly following suit.
ABC then confirmed to Adweek that it was pulling the show entirely.
The Bigger Picture
The dispute comes at a sensitive moment in the broadcasting industry. Nexstar is currently seeking FCC approval for a $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna, a deal that would make it the largest owner of local TV stations in the country. Approval would require the FCC to lift its 40% ownership cap, a decision already under scrutiny.
Whether Nexstar or Sinclair will carry the returning episodes of Jimmy Kimmel Live remains unclear. Both groups had previously announced they would preempt the show following the controversy.
