Jimmy Kimmel Live's Wild Ride: Inside the Suspension and Big Comeback

Jimmy Kimmel recently opened up about his show's unexpected suspension and triumphant return, shedding light on the controversial comments that sparked a national debate and left him wondering if his career was over.

TL;DR: Key Takeaways from Kimmel's Recent Ordeal

• Jimmy Kimmel's show was briefly suspended by ABC and Disney after comments he made regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the characterization of his killer.
• Kimmel initially thought his show was "over" when affiliates joined the suspension, but credited Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden for helping navigate the situation.
• His return episode on September 23rd became one of Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s most-watched ever, sparking a massive online audience and reigniting debates about free speech in media.

The Controversial Monologue That Started Everything Off

Alright, so if you've been keeping up with late-night TV (or even just social media), you know Jimmy Kimmel's show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, hit a bit of a snag recently. The whole thing kicked off after his September 15th monologue, where he made some comments that really stirred the pot. He was talking about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, specifically how his killer was being characterized.

Kimmel stated, "We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it."

Now, this didn't sit well with a lot of people. Critics on social media and conservative outlets were quick to blast Kimmel, accusing him of mischaracterizing the assassin and politicizing a tragic event. They called his comments "disgusting" and "reprehensible," and the backlash started to build.

Pulled Off the Air: A Sudden Shock for Everyone Involved

The situation escalated pretty quickly. Within days of his monologue, ABC and Disney made the executive decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air. The initial word from Disney and ABC was that the content was "unacceptable" and later described as "ill-timed and thus insensitive." This wasn't just a slap on the wrist; the show was shut down without warning. For Kimmel, it was a massive shock.

Speaking at the Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles, Kimmel admitted he didn't see the big problem initially. "I didn't think there was a big problem. I just saw it as distortion on the part of some of the right-wing media networks, and I aimed to correct it." But the reality hit hard. "I think when they pulled the show off the air," he said, prompted by a question about when he realized it was a major issue.

Adding to the chaos, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr publicly warned Disney about Kimmel's comments, which some, including Senator Ted Cruz, likened to a "Mafia boss" threat. This pressure clearly had an impact, as not only did ABC pull the show, but major affiliate groups like Sinclair and Nexstar also put the show on "indefinite hiatus."

This led Kimmel to a truly disheartening moment. "The idea that I would not have 40 affiliates, I was like, 'Well, that's it.' Because there seemed to be a list of demands presented to me and I was not going to go along with any of them," he shared. "So it was like, 'well, I guess we’re done.' I said to my wife, 'that’s it. It’s over.'"

Behind the Curtain: Navigating the Suspension with Disney Leaders

During the brief suspension (the show was off the air from September 17-22, returning on September 23rd), there were some intense conversations happening behind the scenes. Kimmel revealed he had "really good conversations" with Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden. He's known them for a long time and spoke highly of their efforts to resolve the situation.

"I ruined Dana's weekend. It was just nonstop phone calls all weekend. But I don't think the result would have been as positive if I hadn't talked to Dana as much as I did, because it helped me think everything through. And it helped me understand where everyone was coming from. I can sometimes be reactionary, I can sometimes be aggressive, and I can sometimes be unpleasant. And having those days to think about it was helpful."

— Jimmy Kimmel, on conversations with Dana Walden during his show's suspension

It sounds like those days off weren't just a punishment, but a chance for Kimmel to reflect and for all parties to figure out a path forward. He even went as far as to endorse Dana Walden as a potential successor to Bob Iger, highlighting her crucial role in his return.

The Return: A Record-Breaking Comeback Amidst Ongoing Division

When Jimmy Kimmel finally returned to air on September 23rd, it was a moment everyone was watching. He knew his return monologue needed to be impactful. "Ultimately, I wanted to kind of cover every base if I could. It was something really that had to come from inside me. It had to be truthful, and I had to lay it all out there and just be honest about what I was feeling and what I’d experienced," he explained.

Despite not airing in 23% of U.S. households due to the affiliate boycotts, the return episode was a massive hit. It pulled in an average of 6.3 million viewers (or 6.5 million by some counts), making it one of Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s most-watched regularly scheduled episodes ever. And the online numbers? Even bigger! The YouTube version of the episode, titled "Jimmy Kimmel is back!", garnered an astonishing 22 million viewers in just two weeks, dwarfing the linear TV audience spike.

The return also prompted Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to celebrate, saying, "People got activated and demanded that Jimmy Kimmel come back on the air. And I think that that was a great victory."

However, not everyone was cheering. Donald Trump, who had previously celebrated Kimmel's ouster, was quick to criticize ABC for bringing him back, writing on Truth Social, "I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back…Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE."

CPAC Senior Fellow Mercedes Schlapp also weighed in, criticizing Kimmel's "partisan rants" and suggesting his show be rebranded "Hamas for Kimmel" due to what she perceived as "anti-Israel rhetoric" and "pro-Hamas sentiments." It's clear that while many celebrated his return as a win for free speech, the controversy continued to fuel intense political debate.

A Battle for Free Speech or a Necessary Wake-Up Call?

The entire incident quickly became a flashpoint for discussions about free speech, media censorship, and political pressure. Loreen Goldenson Arbus, daughter of ABC founder Leonard H. Goldenson, offered a powerful perspective. She praised Kimmel, saying her father "would be so very proud of Jimmy Kimmel!"

Arbus highlighted the importance of the First Amendment's protections for freedom of the press, drawing parallels to her father's commitment to transparent broadcasting during the McCarthy era. She emphasized the need for media leaders to prioritize "ethical stewardship over self-interest" and urged for a recommitment to "truth and accountability" in a fragmented information landscape. She explicitly called out "corporate giants like Sinclair and Nexstar" for resisting these core protections.

Many saw the suspension, especially given FCC Chairman Carr's involvement and the affiliate boycotts, as a troubling "infringement of free speech" and an "obvious abuse of power," serving as a "warning for media censorship." However, others viewed it as a justified "punishment" for comments deemed divisive or inaccurate.

Kimmel himself felt his original comments were "intentionally and I think maliciously mischaracterized," underscoring the complexities of public discourse and media interpretation in today's polarized environment.

The Broader Landscape of Late Night Television and Kimmel's Future

This whole ordeal also shone a spotlight on the evolving world of late-night television. Traditionally a place for light-hearted entertainment, many shows, including Kimmel's, have become platforms for political commentary, sometimes alienating parts of their audience. This shift has coincided with plummeting linear viewership numbers for many late-night programs, even as digital viewership (like Kimmel's YouTube success) soars.

Kimmel also touched on the economics of late-night, challenging CBS's claim that The Late Show With Stephen Colbert was canceled due to losing $40 million a year. "I know what the budgets for these shows are... I know what I make. I know what Stephen makes," he stated, estimating annual budgets at $100 million to $120 million. He expressed skepticism about the $40 million loss figure, suggesting other values like affiliate fees aren't considered. (Though it should be noted that the article stated Stephen Colbert's show announced it would stop running after May 2026, not that it was already canceled, and CBS claimed it was due to financial issues.)

As for his own future, Kimmel remains coy about when Jimmy Kimmel Live! might end. He joked about frequently saying "this is going to be my last one" for the past three contracts. "I’ve learned not to say anything anymore, because it upsets my staff. It’s best that when I make a decision, I will make that decision," he revealed.

From a controversial monologue to a shocking suspension, a battle for free speech, and a record-setting return, Jimmy Kimmel's recent experience has been a wild ride. It's not just a story about a late-night host, but a reflection of the intense pressures, political divides, and evolving media landscape we're all navigating today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jimmy Kimmel's Suspension

When was Jimmy Kimmel's show suspended?

Jimmy Kimmel Live! was suspended by ABC and Disney shortly after his September 15th monologue, specifically taken off the air from September 17th to September 22nd, 2025.

Why was Jimmy Kimmel Live! pulled off the air?

The show was suspended due to comments Kimmel made in his monologue regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk, which were deemed "unacceptable," "ill-timed," and "insensitive" by ABC/Disney amid political backlash and pressure from figures like FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.

When did Jimmy Kimmel return to television?

Jimmy Kimmel returned to air with a new episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025, after a brief, several-day suspension.

How did Jimmy Kimmel's return episode perform in ratings?

His return episode on September 23rd was a huge success, drawing approximately 6.3 to 6.5 million live+same day viewers on ABC, making it one of the show's most-watched regularly scheduled episodes ever. It also saw a massive surge in viewership on YouTube, accumulating 22 million views in two weeks.

Sources

• MovieWeb: https://movieweb.com/jimmy-kimmel-live-suspension-statement-controversy/
• New York Post: https://nypost.com/2025/10/08/entertainment/jimmy-kimmel-lambasted-as-disgusting-for-defending-charlie-kirk-remarks/
• Variety: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/jimmy-kimmel-thought-show-would-never-return-after-suspension-1236173004/
• Deadline: https://deadline.com/2025/10/jimmy-kimmel-youtube-linear-tv-audience-spike-1236173007/
• Griffin Gazette: https://griffingazette.com/4921/news/jimmy-kimmels-late-night-talk-show-is-pulled-from-the-air/
• Griffin Gazette: https://griffingazette.com/4920/opinion/infringement-of-free-speech-jimmy-kimmel-live-ban-and-return-to-air/
• MassLive: https://www.masslive.com/entertainment/2025/10/jimmy-kimmel-has-lost-relevance-opinion.html
• The Loreen Arbus Foundation: https://www.arbusprod.com/loreen-goldenson-arbus-on-jimmy-kimmel/