Late-night host, Jimmy Kimmel returned to the airwaves Tuesday night with an emotional apology, saying he “never intended to make light of the murder of a young man” following backlash over remarks he made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
It was Kimmel’s first appearance since ABC abruptly suspended his show last week amid mounting political pressure and a wave of affiliate station boycotts.
The comedian opened the broadcast fighting back tears, telling viewers that his comments had been misunderstood.
“It was never my intention to make light of Charlie Kirk’s murder,” Kimmel said. “I wasn’t trying to blame anyone or score points. I was reacting in the moment to something horrific, and I got it wrong. For that, I’m truly sorry.”
The Jimmy Kimmel Live! host also praised Erika Kirk, the victim’s widow, calling her public forgiveness of her husband’s alleged killer a “selfless act of grace” that “touched me deeply.”
Despite the apology, Kimmel didn’t shy away from taking aim at those he said weaponized the tragedy for political gain.
He criticized Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr, who led calls for his suspension, likening him to a “mob boss” for threatening Disney and ABC with regulatory action.
Kimmel also mocked President Donald Trump, who publicly celebrated the show’s brief cancellation, calling Trump’s reaction “un-American” and “dangerous.”
Tuesday’s episode aired on Disney’s streaming service Hulu + Live TV but remained blacked out in several key U.S. markets as affiliates Nexstar and Sinclair continued to pre-empt the program.
Both companies said they were awaiting assurances of “respectful dialogue” before restoring the broadcast.
Kimmel’s suspension sparked a fierce national debate over free speech, drawing support from fellow late-night hosts Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, and Seth Meyers, as well as labour unions and free speech advocates who accused the FCC of political interference.
DAILY POST reported on Monday that Disney announced that the show would resume after what it called “thoughtful conversations with Jimmy,” though the network stopped short of confirming when full distribution would return.
The controversy erupted after Kimmel’s September 15 monologue, in which he mocked the political reactions to Kirk’s killing and compared Trump’s response to “how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
The remarks triggered outrage among conservative audiences and fueled calls for his removal.
As he closed his comeback episode, Kimmel thanked viewers who stood by him during the suspension. “I love doing this show,” he said. “I don’t ever want to take that for granted.”
Tearful Jimmy Kimmel apologizes for Charlie Kirk comments in emotional on-air return