Featured Image Credit: Disney/Randy Holmes
Topics: Jimmy Kimmel, Donald Trump, Charlie Kirk, US News, TV And Film, Celebrity
Madison Burgess
Topics: Jimmy Kimmel, Donald Trump, Charlie Kirk, US News, TV And Film, Celebrity
Jimmy Kimmel Live! is returning to screens tonight, following widespread criticism and claims of government censorship, including from a host of celebrities.
For those not in the loop, the TV talk show was pulled by ABC in response to controversial comments the presenter made last week in response to Charlie Kirk's death - despite Kimmel initially condemning the attack and sending 'love' to Kirk's family following the shooting.
On top of this, US President Donald Trump also suggested that if any TV networks only give him bad press personally, 'maybe their licence should be taken away'.
Since then, the decision to pull Kimmel's show has become a huge talking point in the US and throughout the world, with huge names like Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Ben Affleck and Tom Hanks speaking out on it.
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Following the outcry, ABC announced on Monday (22 September) that it will reinstate the show.
In a statement to media, it said: “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.”
However, 70 ABC affiliate stations have doubled down and said they would not be broadcasting it, which could hugely affect the show's numbers.
Broadcasters Sinclair and Nexstar will instead show other programming.
Sinclair's vice-chairman Jason Smith said: "Mr Kimmel's remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country," as per the BBC.
While Nextstar said in a statement on Tuesday: "We made a decision last week to preempt 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' following what ABC referred to as Mr Kimmel's 'ill-timed and insensitive' comments at a critical time in our national discourse.
"We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve."
Beginning the show with a live-on-air rant about the assassination and its aftermath, Host Kimmel told his audience: "We had some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and with everything they can to score political points from it."
The 57-year-old also slammed the president's response to the killing, referencing a viral clip of him being asked by press how he was 'holding up', after which he unexpectedly turned the conversation to his ongoing White House renovations.
Kimmel joked: "He’s at the fourth stage of grief: construction. This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish, OK?"
Another clip of Trump - in which he once again brings up his construction work after being asked about Kirk - was also referenced by Kimmel, who went on to hit out: "There’s something wrong with him, there really is. Who thinks like that?"
Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return today (Tuesday, September 23) starting at at 11:35 pm ET/10:35 pm CT - that's 4:35am in the UK.
It usually airs on ABC, however, any affiliates owned by Sinclair or Nexstar won't be carrying the September 23rd episode, so it's important to check whether your local channel is effected.
If it is, episodes of the show are available for streaming on Hulu the following day.
You can also stream it on online services including DirecTV, Fubo, YouTubeTV, Live TV and Sling, according to The Hollywood Reporter.