Disney will bring Jimmy Kimmel Live! back to ABC on Tuesday, Sept. 23, after nearly a week off the air following controversy over Kimmel’s remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In a statement Monday, Disney 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 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 is expected to address the matter during Tuesday’s taping.
The suspension set off a fast-moving chain of events. Major ABC affiliate owners, including Nexstar and Sinclair, said they would preempt the show.
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr warned ABC’s broadcast license could face scrutiny, telling CNBC the agency was “not done yet.”
The pressure sparked a wider debate over free speech on broadcast television.
Hollywood figures and civil liberties advocates pushed back hard.
Hundreds of artists signed an ACLU letter condemning the suspension as a threat to free expression, and former Disney CEO Michael Eisner criticized what he described as intimidation by regulators. Current and former late-night hosts also voiced support for Kimmel.
Meanwhile, some conservatives applauded ABC’s move, and President Donald Trump claimed Kimmel’s troubles stemmed from “bad ratings.”
Disney’s decision to restore the show follows days of internal discussions.
According to reports, CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden made the final call and informed Kimmel on Monday.
As Kimmel returns, ABC is signaling it wants to turn down the temperature.
The company framed the pause as a step to avoid inflaming tensions, followed by “thoughtful conversations” that led to bringing the show back.
How Kimmel addresses the controversy, and how viewers, affiliates, and regulators react—will show whether this was a one-week flashpoint or a sign of more battles to come at the intersection of comedy, politics, and broadcast TV.
Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 60 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 250,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.