Jimmy Kimmel's Show Returns to Live TV Six Days After Being Pulled Off the Air

For nearly a week, the late-night spotlight dimmed — replaced by fury over free speech, corporate muscle, and a host's fate. Now the backlash is blazing into a cultural war far bigger than one show.

Late-night firebrand Jimmy Kimmel is returning to his namesake talk show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, after a six-day suspension from ABC, which has rocked the entertainment world and divided the nation.

The shocking pause in production came after an explosive backlash to the comedian's comments regarding the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Now, ABC and its parent company, The Walt Disney Co., are moving forward, insisting the hiatus was never meant to be permanent.

Disney Breaks Its Silence

In a rare and carefully worded statement released on Monday, Disney announced that the decision to suspend the show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was driven by concerns that airing the show could exacerbate an already tense national climate. "It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive," the company explained.

Disney also stated that the halt provided an opportunity for difficult internal conversations with the embattled host, writing, "We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday."

The sudden move marked a dramatic reversal from Disney's previous stance to suspend the show indefinitely. This declaration sent shockwaves through Hollywood and drew immediate condemnation from powerful industry unions representing TV writers and entertainment workers.

'Inappropriate and Deeply Insensitive': Broadcasters Revolt

Even as Kimmel prepares to return to the airwaves, not all stations are welcoming him back. In a stunning rebuke, Sinclair Broadcast Group, one of the nation's largest operators of ABC affiliates, has announced it will not air the show.

The broadcast group controls a massive swath of ABC stations in major cities, including Baltimore, Seattle, Nashville, Austin, Salt Lake City, and many more.

On September 17, 2025, Sinclair Vice Chairman Jason Smith made his position crystal clear:

"Mr. Kimmel's remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country. We believe broadcasters have a responsibility to educate and elevate respectful, constructive dialogue in our communities."

Smith even urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to step in and curb the power of national networks over local programming.

Nexstar, another broadcasting titan, followed suit, issuing its own forceful condemnation. In a statement, the company's President, Andrew Alford, didn't mince words, saying:

"Mr. Kimmel's comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located."

Alford doubled down, emphasizing Nexstar's responsibility to the public, "Continuing to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve is simply not in the public interest at the current time, and we have made the difficult decision to preempt his show in an effort to let cooler heads prevail as we move toward the resumption of respectful, constructive dialogue."

Behind the Curtain: Was a Deal Struck?

Yet amid the chaos, speculation continues to swirl around the actual cost of Kimmel's return. Did Disney cut a deal to soften his famously biting commentary? A source told Deadline that's not the case. "Jimmy will say what Jimmy wants to say," the insider claimed, suggesting the host's creative control remains intact.

Both Kimmel and Disney have declined to comment further, refusing to clarify what terms, if any, were discussed behind closed doors. And while Kimmel himself has yet to break his silence, his imminent return promises to reignite a debate that's far from over.

As the corporate battles played out behind the scenes, the TV host's public appearance the very next day after his show was suspended fueled a different kind of scrutiny.

Kimmel Seen in Los Angeles After ABC Axed His Show

On a warm Thursday afternoon, September 18, 2025, in Los Angeles, acclaimed talk show host Jimmy Kimmel made a public appearance, just one day after ABC abruptly pulled the plug on his show.

What appeared to be a stop at his attorney's office quickly spiraled into a full-blown online firestorm, as photos of the late-night host emerged showing what some netizens believed to be a defeated man behind the wheel of his car.

Clad in a crisp navy button-down and black slacks, Kimmel, 57, was seen stepping out of a sleek black Audi — but the swagger, online viewers believe, was gone.

Clutching a notepad, car keys, and a wallet, and wearing dark sunglasses, the host gave a brief smile to waiting photographers. Still, his demeanor did not go unnoticed by online spectators.

The comedian's outing quickly sparked debate online, with spectators dissecting everything from his facial expression to his overall demeanor. Some were convinced there was more beneath the surface.

"Looks like he's been crying 🙁," remarked one commenter, while another suggested, "He's smiling, but he's crying inside." Echoing that sentiment, someone else added, "Hiding the tears." Others noted a perceived change in his appearance, with one person stating, "Doesn't look like Jimmy Kimmel."

Whether viewed as a comeback, a concession, or the start of a new fight, Kimmel's return is no ordinary resumption of late-night banter. It is a reminder that in today's fractured media landscape, one comedian's monologue can spark a national reckoning.