Disney Says ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ to Return Following Backlash

Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to the air on Tuesday, ending a suspension Walt Disney Co. imposed following controversial remarks the ABC late-night host made about the assassination of Republican activist Charlie Kirk.

“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,” ABC’s parent said in a statement.

Kimmel will address the controversy when he returns to the stage, according to people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified. He personally negotiated his return with Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger and Dana Walden, who oversees ABC as co-chair of entertainment at the company.

Disney’s decision to suspend the show followed pressure from both the federal government and independent operators of ABC stations. Brendan Carr, the Republican chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, criticized Kimmel’s remarks on a podcast and suggested the company could lose its broadcast licenses — a threat echoed by President Donald Trump.

Sinclair Inc., the largest owner of ABC TV stations, said late Monday it will continue to preempt Kimmel’s show and run news programming in its place.

“Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return,” the company said in a statement posted on X.

Jimmy Kimmel

Photographer: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images

The network pulled the show on Sept. 17, two days after Kimmel, 57, said conservatives were trying to score political points from the killing.

“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to characterize this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said in his Sept. 15 monologue.

Read More: Trump’s War on Media Expands With Jimmy Kimmel Suspension

Shortly after, two major owners of ABC stations, Nexstar Media Group Inc. and Sinclair, said they would pull the program in the wake of Kimmel’s comments.

“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,” Disney said Monday. “It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive.”

The broadcast industry has been urging the FCC to relax limits on station ownership and allow more consolidation. Nexstar is in the process of buying rival broadcaster Tegna Inc. in a $6.2 billion deal that will require FCC approval.

Neither Nexstar nor the FCC responded to requests for comment.

The decision to suspend Kimmel drew condemnation from the Hollywood creative community. Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, Andor creator Tony Gilroy and Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof were among those who assailed the move.

In addition, two Republican senators — Ted Cruz of Texas and Kentucky’s Rand Paul — attacked the FCC chairman’s actions, with Cruz accusing Carr of “mafioso” tactics.

FCC member Anna Gomez, the lone Democrat on the regulatory panel, said in an emailed statement she was “glad to see Disney find its courage in the face of clear government intimidation.”

Read More: Kimmel Embroils Disney’s Iger in Culture Wars He Tried to Avoid

In recent years, conservatives have attacked Disney for being too woke. The company gave a Black actress the title role in a remake of The Little Mermaid and included a gay kiss in the Toy Story spinoff Lightyear, moves that sparked complaints.

Iger has attempted to bring conservatives back into Disney’s big tent. He said the company had strayed in its storytelling. He tweaked Disney’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies and settled a lawsuit with Trump late last year.

Kimmel’s contract with Disney is due to expire in May 2026. A former radio host, he has been hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2003. Beyond his flagship show, he has other business with Disney, which has included emceeing the Oscars, appearing regularly at the company’s annual presentation to advertisers and hosting the rebooted Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

To contact the reporters on this story:
Thomas Buckley in Los Angeles at tbuckley25@bloomberg.net;
Lucas Shaw in Los Angeles at lshaw31@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story:
Tom Giles at tgiles5@bloomberg.net

Rob Golum, Christopher Palmeri

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