Jimmy Kimmel returned to the air Tuesday night, five days after his late-night show was unexpectedly pulled by Disney amid FCC pressure over comments he made surrounding comments regarding Charlie Kirk’s murder. Many—including Kimmel himself—believed that his comments were misconstrued and that the FCC used the episode as an opportunity to exert undue influence over ABC affiliates, effectively silencing one of Donald Trump’s most prominent critics.
“I’m not sure who had a weirder 48 hours: me or the CEO of Tylenol,” Kimmel said to kick off his opening monologue.
Kimmel began by thanking fans, as well as the conservatives who supported him, including Ben Shapiro, Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz, and Joe Rogan. “Even though I don’t agree with many of those people on most subjects — some of the things they say even make me want to throw up — it takes courage for them to speak out against this administration, and they did, and they deserve credit for it. Our government cannot be allowed to control what we do and do not say on television.”
From there, Kimmel directly addressed his comments regarding Charlie Kirk. “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” he said through tears. “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it. I posted a message on Instagram of the day he was killed, sending love to his family and asking for compassion, and I meant it. I still do. Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what it was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make, but I understand that to some that felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both, and for those who think I did point a finger, I get why you’re upset. If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I’d have felt the same way.”
Related Video
“I have many friends and family members on the other side who I love and remain close to even though we don’t agree on politics at all. I don’t think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone,” Kimmel continued. “This was a sick person, who believes violence was a solution, and it isn’t — ever.”
Kimmel also praised Kirk’s wife, Erika: “Erika Kirk forgave the man who shot her husband. She forgave him. That is an example we should follow. If you believe in the teachings of Jesus, as I do, there it was. That’s it. A selfless act of grace, forgiveness from a grieving widow.”
“It touched me deeply,” Kimmel added. “I hope it touches many, and if there’s anything we should take from this tragedy to carry forward, I hope it can be that and not this.”
Ultimately, Kimmel concluded: “I don’t want to make this about me. This show is not important. What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this. I’ve had the opportunity to and spend time with comedians and talk show hosts from countries like Russia, countries in the Middle East who tell me they would get thrown in prison for making fun of those in power. And worse than being thrown in prison, they know how lucky we are here. Our freedom to speak is what they admire most about this country. And that’s something I’m embarrassed to say I took for granted until they pulled my friend Stephen [Colbert] off the air and tried to coerce the affiliates who run our show in the cities that you live in to take my show off the air. That’s not legal. That’s not American. That is unAmerican.”
He proceeded to use the latter part of his monologue to go after Trump and FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, for their attempts to stifle free speech. “Should the government be allowed to regulate which podcasts the cell phone companies and Wi-Fi providers are allowed to let you download to make sure they serve the public interest?” Kimmel asked. “You think that sounds crazy? 10 years ago, this sounded crazy: Brendan Carr, the chairman of the FCC, telling an American company, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way, and that these companies can find ways to change conduct and take action on Kimmel or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.” In addition to being a direct violation of the First Amendment, is not a particularly intelligent threat to make in public. Ted Cruz said he sounded like a mafioso… This genius said it on a podcast. Brendan Carr is the most embarrassing car Republicans have embraced since this one,” Kimmel joked he displayed a photo of a Tesla Cybertruck with Trump’s name painted on it.”
Then hitting Trump directly, Kimmel quipped, “He tried his best to cancel me. Instead he forced millions of people to watch the show. That backfired bigly. He might have to release the Epstein files to distract us from this now.”
To further his point, Kimmel closed his monologue with a bit featuring Robert De Niro playing the FCC’s new chairman/mob boss.
For his part, Trump is threatening legal action against ABC. In a Truth Social post shared ahead of Kimmel’s first episode back, Trump wrote:
“I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there.”
“Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE. He is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution. I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings.”
