New York, Sept 24

Jimmy Kimmel returned to late-night television on Tuesday after a nearly weeklong suspension, saying in an emotional monologue that he never intended to make light of the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

“I have no illusions about changing anyone's mind, but it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don't think there's anything funny about it,” Kimmel said, appearing close to tears. He added he was not blaming any group for the actions of a “deeply disturbed individual” and acknowledged his earlier remarks may have felt ill-timed or unclear.

Kimmel criticised ABC affiliates Sinclair and Nexstar, which together represent about a quarter of ABC stations, for not airing his reinstated show. “That's not legal. That's not American. It's un-American,” he said.

The incident sparked a national debate on freedom of speech and President Donald Trump’s influence over journalists and comedians. ABC had suspended Kimmel last Wednesday after criticism of his monologue on Kirk’s killing, but reinstated him following a backlash against Disney, the network’s parent company.

Kimmel thanked supporters, including fellow late-night hosts, a former radio boss, and even Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who spoke out in defence of his free speech rights. He also praised Kirk’s widow, Erica, for publicly forgiving her husband’s killer, calling it “a selfless act of grace” that should serve as an example.

He said he was angry at ABC for the suspension but commended the network for bringing him back, adding the decision had inadvertently drawn millions of viewers to his show. Kimmel mocked Trump for criticising him over ratings, saying, “He tried his best to cancel me, and instead he forced millions of people to watch this show.”

During the controversy, Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr had suggested Kimmel misled the public regarding Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah man charged with Kirk’s killing. Hundreds of entertainment figures, including Tom Hanks, Barbra Streisand, and Jennifer Aniston, signed an ACLU letter condemning ABC’s suspension as a “dark moment for freedom of speech.”

Podcast host Joe Rogan also supported Kimmel, saying the government should not dictate what comedians can say. Some consumers reportedly cancelled Disney subscriptions in protest.

Actor Robert De Niro appeared on the show, impersonating Carr and joking about the FCC’s motto, prompting Kimmel to ask about the saying “sticks and stones…,” highlighting the ongoing tension over words and accountability in media.