Disney Resumes Jimmy Kimmel Live! After Suspension Over Comments on Charlie Kirk’s Death
Disney has decided to resume the airing of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday, ending the host’s short-lived suspension following comments he made on his show about the killing of Charlie Kirk. The decision came after internal discussions with Kimmel, with Disney citing the need to avoid further inflaming a tense situation following intense pressure from Trump allies, including FCC Chair Brendan Carr.
In a statement on Monday, Disney said it suspended Kimmel last week ‘to avoid inflaming a tense situation.’ The company received intense pressure from Trump allies, including Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, over Kimmel’s comments. ‘Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,’ Disney said in the statement. ‘It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive.’
Kimmel’s suspension set off waves of criticism from leaders in both parties who were concerned about political censorship. Prior to Kimmel’s suspension, Carr condemned Kimmel’s comments and suggested that media companies who receive licensing from the FCC have ‘an obligation to operate in the public interest.’ ‘We can do this the easy way or the hard way,’ Carr said last Wednesday in an interview.
Hours later on Wednesday, Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcasting Group, two of the nation’s largest owners of local television stations, said they would preempt tapings of Jimmy Kimmel Live! because of Kimmel’s comments. Nexstar Media Group is currently pursuing a billion-dollar merger with Tegna that would require FCC approval.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A handful of prominent Republicans on Capitol Hill, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, warned that Carr could set a dangerous precedent and urged the Trump administration to be careful in pressuring a private company to influence its speech.
Democratic leaders in Washington and hundreds of artists and celebrities joined in condemning Kimmel’s suspension. Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, encouraged Nexstar and Sinclair to keep their pledge to preempt Kimmel when his show returns. ‘Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmel back on the air is not surprising, but it’s their mistake to make,’ Kolvet said in a social media post Monday. ‘Nextstar and Sinclair do not have to make the same choice.’
The situation highlights the growing tensions between media companies and government regulators, particularly in the context of free speech and the role of the federal government in overseeing private broadcasting. With the FCC’s influence expanding, many fear that the agency could increasingly shape media content under the guise of public interest.
As Jimmy Kimmel Live! returns to air, the incident underscores the complex dynamics between private media, regulatory bodies, and political forces. The episode may serve as a reminder that the boundaries of free expression are under continued scrutiny, particularly in politically charged environments.