Kimmel to Return to ABC After Suspension, Report Says

Jimmy Kimmel is slated to return to ABC on Tuesday after a weeklong suspension that followed his on-air remarks about Charlie Kirk's death, The Daily Mail reported Monday. The suspension, which halted production of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, came as Nexstar Media's affiliates voiced objections to the host's monologue and as networks weighed the appropriate response to the controversy. ABC and the show's production team have not publicly commented on the reported plan to resume production, and a representative for Kimmel did not respond to requests for comment.

ABC’s affiliated stations, including several owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, will continue to pre-empt Jimmy Kimmel Live! with local news programming while the network finalizes its approach to the situation, according to reports cited by outlets that track late-night television. The network indicated that the decision to bring the show back was made in the wake of what executives described as thoughtful conversations, though details of any future messaging or moderation on the show remain under consideration. The Daily Mail's account, which cited unnamed sources, framed Kimmel's return as a move to protect his staff from further disruption and to give the crew time to plan for the weeks ahead.

According to the Daily Mail, a source described as close to the situation said Kimmel decided to return to the air “out of respect … for everyone that works for him.” The outlet reported that the 57-year-old host wanted to ensure his staff would not miss any pay and would have time to determine their next steps. The same account suggested that while Kimmel could consider leaving ABC when his contract expires in 2026 if he receives a substantial offer, his current aim was to resume work for the near term to support his crew. The publication quoted an insider who claimed Kimmel would “give the people he works with [time to figure out their next steps],” a sentiment the outlet tied to the desire to safeguard his team’s livelihoods. The Daily Mail’s report also noted that Kimmel might begin with a formidable monologue on Tuesday, signaling he intends to come out ready to push back rather than back down.

The suspension followed a monologue about Charlie Kirk that prompted swift backlash from Nexstar Media Group, which owns or operates a large share of ABC-affiliated stations in markets across the country. Nexstar publicly objected to the remarks, and Disney’s General Entertainment Content division cited the decision to suspend as a necessary step while it reviewed the situation. In the days that followed, support for Kimmel poured in from peers in late-night television and from more than a hundred celebrities who condemned the suspension as a threat to free expression. Howard Stern joined a broader protest by cancelling his Disney+ subscription in alignment with the pushback.

Kimmel’s return — if confirmed — would put his staff back in the spotlight as the show resumes production and navigates a fragile moment for network talk). The comedian’s team has not publicly commented on the specifics of the plan for Tuesday’s monologue or the tone he intends to strike as the program reopens. Observers will be watching closely for how the show addresses the controversy on air, how the network balances advertiser and affiliate concerns, and whether the staff’s financial considerations influence the program’s direction in the weeks ahead. The Daily Mail’s reporting notes that while Kimmel’s contract is not yet up, his future with ABC could hinge on compensation and corporate offers tied to the broader negotiations surrounding the show’s return.

Kimmel’s representatives did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment on the reported timeline or the rationale behind a Tuesday return. The saga has underscored the tension between late-night entertainment figures seeking unfiltered speech and corporate owners who must balance public criticism, affiliate standards, and advertiser sensitivities. As negotiations continue behind the scenes, viewers and industry watchers are awaiting a clearer statement about how Jimmy Kimmel Live! will move forward and what lessons will be drawn from the episode for future on-air commentary.