After nearly a week off the air, Jimmy Kimmel returned to âJimmy Kimmel Live!â on Tuesday, September 23, to thunderous applause and a standing ovation that lasted several minutes. Fighting through tears, the late-night host expressed gratitude to fans and fellow comedians who rallied around him during his suspension.
âMaybe most of all,â Kimmel said, âI want to thank the people who donât support my show and what I believe, but support my right to share those beliefs anyway.â
His absence marked a dramatic turning point in late-night television, sparked by remarks he made on September 15 about Charlie Kirkâs suspected killer. ABC quickly halted production, igniting a wave of support from viewers and peers who defended Kimmelâs right to speak freely.
Fighting Back Tears Over Controversial Remarks
Kimmel grew emotional as he insisted his words were never meant to downplay the murder of a young man or target any group. âIt was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,â he said. âNor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual.â
The host teared up again while praising Charlie Kirkâs widow, Erika, for forgiving her husbandâs killer during Sundayâs memorial service. âIt touched me deeply,â Kimmel said. âAnd I hope it touches many. If thereâs anything we should take from this tragedy to carry forward, I hope it can be that.â
Shoutouts, Jokes & Free Speech Message
As per a report in CNN, the night opened with chants from the crowd before Kimmel cracked a joke about preempting âFamily Feud.â He went on to thank late-night peers, including Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver, and others, for standing by him during the controversy.
Kimmel also credited fans and even political figures such as Ted Cruz for defending his right to free speech. âThis show is not important,â he told viewers. âWhatâs important is that we live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.â
Lightening the mood, the host pulled out a piece of paper and pretended to read a ârequired statementâ from Disney, ABCâs parent company: âTo reactivate your Disney+ or Hulu account, open the Disney app on your smart TV.â The joke drew loud laughter as it playfully referenced the boycott and his forced hiatus.
One of the funniest bits of the monologue was: “I’m not sure who had a weirder 48 hours, me or the C.E.O. of Tylenol“
Kimmelâs Plea to Protect Free Expression
Throughout the monologue, Kimmel urged his audience to fight for freedom of speech and the press. He described conversations with comedians from countries where people are jailed for mocking leaders.
âThey know how lucky we are here,â he said. âOur freedom to speak is what they admire most about this country, and thatâs something I took for granted until they pulled my friend Stephen off the air and tried to coerce the affiliates who run our show⦠Thatâs not legal. Thatâs not American. That is un-American.â
Kimmelâs emotional return combined humor, gratitude, and a powerful defense of free expression, making his comeback one of the most talked-about moments in late-night TV this year.
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