Disney says Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return Tuesday after suspension

Disney on Monday announced that ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! will resume airing on Tuesday, ending a brief suspension tied to controversial remarks about the alleged killer of Charlie Kirk. A Disney spokesperson said the pause was intended to avoid inflaming a tense moment in the country, and that after thoughtful conversations with Kimmel, the decision to bring the show back was made. "We felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive," the spokesperson said.

Last Wednesday, production on the late-night program was suspended after two major ABC/Disney affiliate owners pulled airings amid concerns the remarks could inflame the moment. Kimmel reportedly told executives he would not apologize for the comments, according to multiple outlets. Disney Entertainment co-Chair Dana Walden and CEO Bob Iger were described as having decided to bench Kimmel following those conversations, a decision reportedly supported by Disney leadership after discussions with the host.

Disney had planned to address the controversy in a monologue that evening, but Walden and Iger—who are cited as Kimmel allies—believed that addressing the remarks publicly could make the situation worse. In the weeks leading up to the suspension, the issue also drew attention from regulators; FCC Chair Brendan Carr described Kimmel's remarks as "some of the sickest conduct" and suggested there were potential avenues the agency could pursue. The network said the pause was made after careful consideration and in consultation with Kimmel.

Protests erupted outside Disney’s Burbank campus last week, with demonstrators urging executives to restore the show to ABC’s lineup. Similar demonstrations followed outside Kimmel’s studio on Hollywood Boulevard, where protesters chanted lines like, "ABC bent the knee! No to the FCC!" The episodes in question centered on comments about Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin and the political fallout surrounding those remarks, drawing condemnation from critics across the spectrum who argued the remarks were inflammatory and improper for a late-night program.

The controversy has centered on the 22-year-old suspect identified in the Charlie Kirk case, Tyler Robinson, who was killed during a campus event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. Robinson, described by authorities as the man accused of shooting Kirk, reportedly faced questions about transgender mass shooters when the shooting occurred. FBI text messages released in the aftermath purportedly show Robinson confessing to the murder. Kimmel, who has been a frequent critic of the Trump administration and conservative figures, argued that some conservatives had attempted to cast the incident in a political light, prompting a fierce backlash from some corners of the right as well as calls for accountability.

Disney’s move to pause and then resume the show comes amid a broader debate about free speech, corporate responsibility, and the boundaries of humor in a polarized media environment. The company did not indicate how long the suspension would influence future editorial decisions at Jimmy Kimmel Live!, but Tuesday’s return signals a willingness to navigate the tensions rather than suspend the program long term. The network said the decision to bring the show back was made after ongoing discussions with Kimmel and a review of the evolving situation.

This is a developing story; more details are expected as the show returns to the air and as observers monitor responses from viewers, regulators, and political critics.