Jennifer Aniston leads celebrity support as Jimmy Kimmel returns amid Charlie Kirk controversy
ABC restarts Jimmy Kimmel Live! after indefinite suspension; Sinclair and Nexstar boycott continues; Aniston and other stars react on social media
Jimmy Kimmel's late-night program returned to air Tuesday after ABC announced it would resume following an indefinite suspension prompted by FCC concerns over jokes about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
ABC said the decision to bring the show back came after what it described as thoughtful conversations with Kimmel. The move comes despite ongoing resistance from several broadcasters: Sinclair and Nexstar chose not to air the new episode on their ABC-affiliated stations.
Jennifer Aniston, a longtime friend of Kimmel and his wife, publicly voiced support on social media after the comeback episode concluded. She reposted a photo from the official Jimmy Kimmel Live! account showing Kimmel on set and added a red heart emoji, signaling personal backing amid the controversy.
Other celebrities joined in on social media. Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx left three flame emojis under a Kimmel post, and fellow late-night host Stephen Colbert commented, 'Welcome back, brother! [red-heart emoji]'. Aniston's public endorsement marked her first social-media gesture since the controversy intensified earlier this month, according to insiders.
Insiders told Daily Mail that Aniston is '100 percent in [Kimmel's] corner,' though her team advised restraint to avoid a backlash. The friendship between Aniston and Kimmel, and between Aniston and Kimmel's wife, has spanned about a decade, underscoring the personal ties at play in a public dispute over broadcast standards.
The episode's airing Tuesday night followed ABC's decision to bring Kimmel back after the FCC-led scrutiny. Sinclair and Nexstar's refusals to carry the program on their ABC affiliates highlight the split between network leadership and some local stations in the wake of the dispute.
The controversy centered on jokes about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the network's response to viewer criticism. Kimmel's return is being watched as a test case for how networks balance late-night comedy with standards and political sensitivity, as affiliates weigh their own editorial practices against corporate directives.
Industry observers say the return will be watched for how networks balance late-night comedy with broadcast standards and affiliate compliance, as Sinclair and Nexstar continue to withhold the episode.