Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night television on Tuesday wasn’t just another episode—it was an emotional and politically charged comeback.
After a week-long suspension over comments about the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, Kimmel stood in front of his audience, visibly shaken, and tried to clarify his words while holding back tears.
Fighting Back Tears
Kimmel opened up about the storm surrounding him, stressing that he never intended to make light of the tragedy.
“It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” he said, voice cracking.
He reminded viewers that he had publicly expressed condolences to Kirk’s family on Instagram and still meant every word.
While he stopped short of offering a direct apology, he admitted his comments might have come across as “ill-timed or unclear” and said he understood why some people were upset.
Pointing to Forgiveness
In one of the most emotional moments of his monologue, Kimmel highlighted Erika Kirk’s powerful decision to forgive her husband’s killer at his funeral. “She forgave him.
That is an example we should follow,” he said, calling it an act of selfless grace rooted in the teachings of Jesus.
He admitted her gesture moved him deeply and hoped others would carry that message forward instead of dwelling on division.
Mixing Tears with Jokes
Despite the heavy subject, Kimmel still slipped in jokes about Donald Trump, who has publicly mocked him.
After playing an old clip of Trump questioning his talent, Kimmel shot back, “Well, I do tonight,” pointing to his sky-high ratings.
He even quipped that Trump might need to “release the Epstein files” to distract from the backlash.
Taking on the FCC
Kimmel also criticized FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who had targeted him after the controversy.
Calling Carr’s actions “un-American” and a violation of free speech, Kimmel cracked a joke comparing him to “the most embarrassing car Republicans have embraced since a Trump-branded Tesla.”
Finding Support in Unexpected Places
The late-night host took time to thank not only fellow comedians like Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, David Letterman, and even Jay Leno, but also surprising conservative figures—including Ted Cruz—for defending his right to free speech.
“I don’t think I’ve ever said this before, but Ted Cruz is right,” Kimmel joked.
A Divided Broadcast
While ABC’s parent company Disney reinstated the show after “thoughtful conversations” with Kimmel, not everyone welcomed him back.
Sinclair and Nexstar, which control a third of ABC’s affiliates, announced they would not air his program without a formal apology to the Kirk family.
Their refusal meant large parts of the country couldn’t see his return.
Celebrities Rally Behind Him
Outside of the studio, support poured in. More than 400 celebrities—including Jennifer Aniston, Robert De Niro, Mark Ruffalo, and Ariana Grande—signed a letter condemning Kimmel’s suspension as an attack on free speech.
Disney faced boycotts and even a $5 billion hit in market value before finally bringing him back on air.
Protests and Security Concerns
As Kimmel taped his comeback show, protesters gathered outside the theater with signs backing him and condemning Trump.
Security was on high alert too, especially after an incident the previous week where a man threw a brick at the studio and another allegedly fired shots at an ABC affiliate in Sacramento, a crime officials suggested could be linked to Kimmel’s suspension.
Trump’s Blistering Response
Not everyone was celebrating. Just hours before the episode aired, Donald Trump slammed ABC on Truth Social for reinstating Kimmel, calling the decision “a major illegal campaign contribution” to Democrats and mocking Kimmel’s ratings.
A Show of Resilience
Despite the backlash, Kimmel received a standing ovation from both his studio audience and staff.
His sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez posted a photo celebrating their return with the caption, “We are back full of love.”
And while Kimmel didn’t deliver a direct apology, his emotional monologue left many in the audience calling the night “unifying.”