‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ is confirmed to return on television after it was briefly suspended due to the host’s comments on conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The news was confirmed by a spokesperson for the Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC. For the unversed, the show was pulled off-air after Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr and several affiliate networks raised concerns over Kimmel’s remarks on the MAGA movement’s reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
“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’s spokesperson told CNN.
The spokesperson added, “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 to the show on Tuesday.”
The show’s suspension started a conversation on the freedom of speech in the US and the government’s involvement in media. More than 400 artists, including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Aniston, and Tom Hanks, signed an open letter in support of Kimmel. The letter was organised by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and called for the protection of artistic voices in the media.
Moreover, the protests were held outside Disney offices in New York and Burbank, California, as well as near the Hollywood studio where “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is filmed.
Trump’s reaction after Jimmy Kimmel Live was pulled off-air:
Earlier, President Donald Trump also commented on Jimmy Kimmel’s show being pulled off the air. He wrote, “Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT.”
Jimmy Kimmel’s comment that caused controversy:
Kimmel, who has always been open about his political opinions, sparked controversy over his comments on Charlie Kirk’s assassination. “We had some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said during his show.
Trump’s close ally Kirk was shot dead last week during an event at a Utah university campus. The accused, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, has been formally charged with murder.
(With inputs from ANI)
Also Read: Trump reacts to Jimmy Kimmel’s show being pulled off air after Charlie Kirk backlash
