Last week, ABC and Disney indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! after uproar over comments made during a monologue after the death of Charlie Kirk. This week, the program will be returning to the airwaves. In a statement, Disney said that it had “thoughtful conversations with Jimmy” that led to the return of the show on Tuesday night. Here is a look at that statement:
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.
The updates come amidst another uproar about the First Amendment being threatened by pulling Jimmy Kimmel’s show. It is further complicated by multiple business deals/mergers that need approval from the Trump Administration regarding ABC Affiliates, Disney, and Fubo. There is a delicate line being walked by Disney CEO Bob Iger between business benefits, free speech, and the public relations fallout that could come from making the wrong decision. The update also comes after over 400 Hollywood stars signed a letter backing Jimmy Kimmel.
The open letter was released by the ACLU that was signed by the stars. “We the people must never accept government threats to our freedom of speech,” the letter says. “Efforts by leaders to pressure artists, journalists, and companies with retaliation for their speech strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country.”
Last week, former Disney CEO Michael Eisner also spoke out in support of Jimmy Kimmel in a post on X. Many people took to social media to share that they were cancelling their Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN subscriptions. Others were contemplating what to do about future trips to the Disney Parks or their Annual Passes/Magic Keys.
Returning Jimmy Kimmel to the airwaves may not be the end of this controversy. There are still lots of unknowns as to what the future holds with Jimmy Kimmel, ABC Affiliates, and potential government intervention with future mergers or potential First Amendment controversies. What is known for now is that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be back on the air on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
