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The late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to ABC's screen this Tuesday night, as announced by the network, after a nearly week-long suspension following a controversial monologue by the host regarding the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The return of the show comes after days of protests outside Disney offices in New York and California, a public letter signed by over 400 celebrities in support of Kimmel, and a nationwide debate about freedom of expression in the face of political pressure.
Disney, the parent company of ABC, stated in a statement that it has temporarily suspended the program "to avoid exacerbating the situation at a delicate time for the country" and that, after discussing with Kimmel, they decided to resume the broadcast.
However, not all stations affiliated with ABC will air the program. The Sinclair group, owner of dozens of local channels, announced that its affiliates will interrupt the broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel Live! starting this Tuesday and will instead air news during that time.
“We are evaluating the possible return of the program,” said a spokesperson for Sinclair to CNN. Nexstar, another giant in the industry, has yet to confirm whether it will resume broadcasting.
The initial suspension of the program occurred after Kimmel claimed in his monologue that the MAGA movement was trying to dissociate the alleged murderer of Charlie Kirk from the Republican ideology to gain political advantages.
The reaction was immediate. Brendan Carr, an ally of Donald Trump at the FCC, publicly suggested that Kimmel be suspended. Hours later, ABC pulled the show off the air.
The measure generated strong criticism from artists, organizations like the ACLU and PEN America, and Democratic leaders. The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, described it as "a victory for freedom of expression," while Senator Chuck Schumer stated that it was about "fighting against the abuses of Donald Trump."
Jimmy Kimmel, who plans to address the controversy in his monologue tonight, has not made any public statements, but sources close to the show have assured that his return will be "with strength and without censorship."
Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs Monday through Friday at 11:35 p.m. (Eastern Time) and employs over 200 people.
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