NEW YORK – ABC will reinstate Jimmy Kimmelโs late night show in the wake of criticism over his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, officials with the network said Monday.
“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,โ said a statement from the network.
ABCย suspendedย Kimmel indefinitely after comments he made about Kirk, who was killed Sept. 10, in a monologue. Kimmel said โmany in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirkโ and that โthe MAGA gangโ was โdesperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.โ
Kimmel has hosted โJimmy Kimmel Live!โ on ABC since 2003 and has been a fixture in television and comedy for even longer. He is also well known as a presenter, having hosted the Academy Awards four times.
Backlash to Kimmelโs comments about Kirk was swift.ย Nexstar and Sinclair,ย two of ABCโs largest affiliate owners, said they would be pulling โJimmy Kimmel Live!โ from their stations. Others, including several fellowย comedians, came to his defense.
There was no immediate comment from Nexstar and Sinclair in response to messages from The Associated Press.
