Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to ABC on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, less than a week after the late-night talk show was suspended following controversy over remarks made by host Jimmy Kimmel.
The suspension stemmed from Kimmel’s Sept. 15 monologue addressing the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. During the segment, Kimmel criticized political responses to the incident and used language that drew swift backlash. Several ABC affiliates, including major groups such as Nexstar and Sinclair, temporarily stopped airing the show, while Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr publicly condemned the remarks.
In a statement, Disney — ABC’s parent company — said the decision to suspend the program was made “to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.” After what the company described as “thoughtful conversations” with Kimmel, the network confirmed that the show would resume airing this week.
The controversy quickly expanded beyond late-night television, sparking a broader debate about free speech, editorial independence, and political pressure on broadcasters. Entertainment figures, civil liberties groups, and public commentators warned that the suspension set a troubling precedent, while supporters of the decision argued it reflected appropriate sensitivity in a volatile moment.
As previously reported, Disney was facing a $3.8 billion loss following the Jimmy Kimmel Live! suspension.
ABC has not said whether Kimmel plans to address the controversy when the show returns, nor has the network indicated any changes to the program’s format or content oversight. Affiliates that pulled the show have yet to announce whether they will resume broadcasts in sync with the national schedule.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! is slated to return with new episodes Tuesday night in its regular time slot.
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