Kimmel Set to Return Amid Free Speech Storm
Jimmy Kimmel will return to American television on Tuesday, 23 September, following a week-long suspension that ignited fierce debate over censorship and political pressure.
Disney, the owner of American Broadcasting Company (ABC), halted “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after the comedian’s comedic monologue about Donald Trump supporters and the killing of far-right activist Charlie Kirk drew criticism from conservatives.
The move came after Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC’s broadcast licences, a step widely condemned as government interference.
While the broadcasting network has reinstated the show, not all audiences will see it. Sinclair Broadcast Group, which controls dozens of ABC affiliates, announced it will continue to block Kimmel, replacing his slot with news coverage. Nexstar, another major station owner, has not clarified whether it will resume airing the programme.
The suspension sparked protests outside Disney offices and prompted over 400 Hollywood figures, including Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep and Jennifer Aniston, to sign an open letter in support of Kimmel. California Governor Gavin Newsom hailed his return as “a win for free speech everywhere.”
Kimmel is expected to address the controversy in his opening monologue, but the dispute has left a lasting mark on late-night television and its uneasy relationship with American politics.
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