Disney lifts Jimmy Kimmel suspension after five days
The network says 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' will return to ABC Tuesday after discussions with the host about remarks on Charlie Kirk’s death and a decision it called ill-timed and insensitive.
Disney announced Monday that it will bring “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” back on the air Tuesday, less than a week after the company said it was suspending ABC’s late-night program indefinitely following host Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks about Charlie Kirk’s killing. The move marks a rapid reversal for a controversy that drew political and cultural backlash both lauding and criticizing the suspension. Disney said the decision followed thoughtful conversations with Kimmel and that it believed the timing of the remarks had been insensitive in the wake of a tense moment for the country.
Last Wednesday, Disney said it suspended production on the show to avoid inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for the nation, saying some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. The company stressed that the suspension was a temporary step while it engaged with the host and considered the appropriate course of action.
Disney described the week of discussions as productive and said the decision to return was made after ongoing conversations with Kimmel. In a statement, the company said, “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 added that “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.”
The suspension drew widespread criticism from celebrities and some lawmakers. More than 400 figures, including Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, signed a letter calling the move a “dark moment for freedom of speech,” while others urged boycotts or platform withdrawals. On the political side, critics argued that the action set a dangerous precedent for curbing speech in entertainment, and conservative voices, including Senator Ted Cruz, condemned the decision as capitulation to threats and censorship.
Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns several ABC affiliates and controls what is broadcast in those markets, said it would continue to preempt Kimmel’s show despite Disney lifting the suspension. The company said that news programming would fill the time slot in its stations and left open the possibility of Kimmel’s return after further discussions with ABC. A representative for Sinclair said discussions with ABC were ongoing as they evaluate the show’s potential return. Nexstar, another company that owns ABC affiliates, has not commented publicly on its plans for the time slot.
Kimmel has hosted his show on the Disney unit since 2003, making it one of the longest-running programs in late-night television. He has not publicly commented on the suspension since it was announced, and there was no indication of immediate further action from Disney as Tuesday’s return approaches.
The episode surrounding Charlie Kirk’s death and the ensuing criticism highlighted tensions over how political commentary intersects with entertainment platforms. With Kimmel’s return, executives appear to be signaling a desire to restore programming quickly while continuing to monitor the broader conversation around satire, free expression, and the responsibilities assumed by late-night hosts in a polarized climate.
