‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ is scheduled to return to television after a brief suspension, which stemmed from host Jimmy Kimmel’s commentary concerning the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk. This information was confirmed by a spokesperson for the Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC. The show’s suspension was triggered by concerns raised by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr and several affiliate networks regarding Kimmel’s comments about the MAGA movement’s reaction to Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
The Disney spokesperson stated, “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.”
They added, “This decision was made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. After thoughtful conversations with Jimmy over the past few days, we decided to return to the show on Tuesday.”
The suspension of the show initiated a conversation regarding the First Amendment in the US and the government’s influence on media. Over 400 artists, including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Aniston, and Tom Hanks, signed an open letter expressing support for Kimmel. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) orchestrated the letter, emphasizing the need to protect artistic voices in media.
Protests also occurred outside of Disney offices in New York and Burbank, California, and near the Hollywood studio where “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is filmed.