The Walt Disney Company announced Monday that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to air on Tuesday following a weeklong suspension over his monologue about Charlie Kirk’s murder.
In a statement, Disney said it halted production last Wednesday “to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.” The company added that “some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive.”
Executives said they spent several days in discussions with Kimmel before concluding the late-night program could resume.
The suspension from ABC followed remarks by Kimmel in which he claimed MAGA activist Kirk was killed by other supporters of President Trump — despite authorities saying the alleged killer how a leftist social media history.
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner blasted the decision, accusing the company of yielding to “out-of-control intimidation” from federal regulators.
ABC affiliates including Nexstar and Sinclair had threatened to preempt the show unless action was taken, and FCC Chair Brendan Carr publicly warned the company could face additional scrutiny if it did not intervene.
Disney’s move temporarily replaced “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” with reruns and specials. The company has not disclosed whether the show’s format or content guidelines will change when it returns.
Kimmel has not commented publicly beyond brief social media posts.
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