Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, which was suspended abruptly last week, will return to air on Tuesday, Disney announced on Monday.
The program, broadcast on ABC, was pulled following backlash from conservative groups over Kimmel’s comments on the shooting of Christian activist Charlie Kirk.
The suspension sparked outrage across liberal America, with critics accusing the US government of pressuring broadcasters to silence one of President Donald Trump’s most outspoken critics.
In a statement, Disney acknowledged the controversy but framed the suspension as a temporary cooling-off measure:
“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. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive.
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.”
The decision to take Kimmel off the air came amid reports of direct pressure from Washington on broadcasters who distribute ABC, an unprecedented move that alarmed free speech advocates.
Kimmel, long known for using his platform to challenge Trump and conservative policies, has not publicly commented since the suspension. His return is likely to reignite debates about media freedom and political influence in US broadcasting, with tensions already running high ahead of the 2026 election season.
