Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be back on the air this Tuesday, according to Disney.

Jimmy Kimmel’s Show Returns After Brief Suspension

Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night program will make its return on Tuesday following a short hiatus that began last Wednesday. This decision comes from Disney after the show faced backlash due to remarks made by Kimmel about the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk.

The production pause was intended to ease tensions during a charged time in the nation’s emotional landscape. Some comments made by Kimmel were viewed as poorly timed and it seems they struck a nerve with viewers. After his comments about Kirk’s assassin led to outrage and hints of action from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), major affiliate owners chose to pull Kimmel’s broadcast from their channels. Kimmel has reportedly expressed that he would not apologize for his statements.

In a notable response, Howard Stern reacted strongly to Kimmel’s suspension, even declaring he would cancel his Disney+ subscription. The issue has ignited heated discussions online, with protests taking place outside the Disney headquarters in Burbank, California. Demonstrators gathered last week, expressing their frustrations and chanting slogans opposing the network’s actions.

The controversy kicked off when Kimmel labeled the 22-year-old assassin, Tyler Robinson, as reaching a “new low” and suggested a connection to leftist ideologies. Reactions have been sharply divided, stirring anger among some liberals, while others, particularly conservatives, defended Kimmel’s use of the term “Maga” to describe the assailant.

FCC Chairman Brendan Kerr criticized Kimmel’s comments as “some of the most ill acts” and hinted at possible regulatory pathways the FCC might explore. Amid growing controversy, Kimmel originally intended to address the incident in a monologue that night but faced counsel from Disney’s leadership suggesting that doing so could exacerbate the situation.

As the dust settled, both Dana Walden and Disney CEO Bob Iger took a step back from immediate consequences, opting instead to bring Kimmel back on air for the time being.

Kirk was tragically shot during an event at Utah Valley University on September 10. Reports indicate that Robinson was romantically involved with a partner who identifies as transgender. This incident has raised questions around societal issues and violent reactions related to political discourse.

As a prominent critic of the Trump administration, Kimmel’s suspension has sparked a broader discussion regarding free speech on major platforms. Observers are left wondering how his return will be received and what implications it might have for future programming decisions.