Jimmy Kimmel Live! Returns to Air
Jimmy Kimmel Live! has returned to the airwaves after a brief suspension. The show, which airs on ABC, is owned by the parent company Disney. According to a spokesman, the decision to suspend production was made to avoid escalating a tense situation in the country.
Background of the Suspension
The suspension was made after Jimmy Kimmel made comments on his show about Charlie Kirk’s murderer. Kimmel stated that some people were trying to characterize the child as anything but one of them, and were trying to score political points. This led to a backlash, with the FCC Chairman Brendan Carr describing Kimmel’s comedy as "sick behavior" and calling on ABC to "find ways to change behaviors" or face additional work from the FCC.
Reaction from Local Stations
Following Kimmel’s comments, local stations owned by Nexstar and Sinclair announced that they would be pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! from their schedules for the foreseeable future. Nexstar stated that they were "strongly against" Kimmel’s comments, while Sinclair followed with similar statements.
Disney’s Decision to Pause the Show
Disney then made the decision to pause the show, citing a need to have "thoughtful conversations" about the situation. This led to days of discussion between Disney and Kimmel, with both sides facing criticism and backlash.
Support for Kimmel
Kimmel received support from several celebrities, including Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, who called the suspension a "state threat to our freedom of speech". Other celebrities, such as Tatiana Maslany, star of Marvel’s Disney+ series She-Hulk: Lawyer, called on people to cancel their Disney subscriptions. Kimmel also received support from his late-night colleagues, including Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver.
Support from Unlikely Sources
Even some right-wing politicians, such as Ted Cruz, came to Kimmel’s defense, warning that the government silencing freedom of speech was a dangerous precedent. Cruz stated that when Democrats enter the White House, they will want to silence conservative voices, and that this sets a bad precedent.
The Show’s Return
After "thoughtful conversations" between Disney and Kimmel, the show has returned to the airwaves. The decision to return the show was made after considering the backlash and criticism from both sides of the political aisle. The return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! marks a continuation of the show’s tradition of pushing boundaries and sparking conversations.
