ABC has confirmed that it has renewed Jimmy Kimmel’s contract until 2027. Initially set to expire in May 2026, his new deal will extend through at least May 2027 with the network owned by Disney.
Bloomberg was the first to report on this extension.
The liberal comedian had faced some controversy and was briefly removed from the air in September after making remarks suggesting that the person accused of murdering conservative figure Charlie Kirk was aligned with the MAGA movement. He commented that the situation had reached a new low, alleging that the “MAGA gang” was trying to distance themselves from the accused.
However, it was later indicated that Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect, had expressed left-leaning beliefs, as validated by prosecutors.
Kimmel’s comments not only sparked backlash from conservatives but also an implicit threat to ABC from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Following this, companies like Nexstar Media Group announced they would not air “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Disney decided to take Kimmel’s show off the air “indefinitely.” Former President Donald Trump called the decision “great news for America.”
This action led to a counter-reaction from liberals, who urged people to cancel their Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions in support of Kimmel. Many in Hollywood voiced their backing for him, accusing the Trump administration of attempting to stifle free expression.
Eventually, Kimmel returned to the air, and his show resumed airing nationally.
Upon his return, Kimmel delivered an emotional monologue trying to clarify his previous remarks. He expressed that he never intended to condemn any group and acknowledged that his comments were poorly timed or confusing for some. He reflected that if the roles were reversed, he might have felt similarly upset.
Kimmel also mentioned the political divide but emphasized that he has many loved ones with differing views, insisting that the shooter did not represent anyone but was rather a deeply troubled individual who believed violence was a solution.
