Jimmy Kimmel is back — and he didn’t waste any time addressing the elephant in the room.
After being suspended by ABC last week, the late-night host started his show off by thanking everyone who checked in on him, calling out several of his fellow talk show hosts by name. He followed up by thanking his supporters — and even those who aren’t fans of his show.
“Maybe most of all, I want to thank the people who don’t support my show or what I believe, but support my right to share those beliefs anyway,” Kimmel said.
Kimmel was pulled off the air after a joke about the death of Charlie Kirk sparked major backlash. Some said he crossed a line. Others accused him of using a tragedy for laughs. On Monday night, Kimmel admitted the reaction hurt, but he also said he understood it.
“It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel said while visibly emotional. “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.”
Kimmel went on to mention Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika, who had publicly forgiven the shooter. He called her response “a selfless act of grace” and “an example we should follow.”
The host also talked about the bigger picture, specifically the critics who tried to get him off the air for good. He didn’t name Donald Trump at first, but he got there.
“The president of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs,” Kimmel said. “Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke.”
The suspension was lifted after ABC had many conversations with Kimmel. Still, not every station is airing the show again — groups like Nexstar and Sinclair are holding out, which means a lot of fans still can’t watch him.
Kimmel ended the segment by defending the role of free speech in comedy. “This show is not important,” he said. “What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
