UPDATE: As suspected, Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns 38 ABC affiliates including WJLA in the D.C. area, announced it will not air Kimmel’s show and instead replace it with local news. As a result, while Kimmel is back on air, many viewers in large parts of the U.S. will not see the show.
EARLIER: Jimmy Kimmel will return on air this Tuesday after a short-lived “suspension” that had people freaking out over free speech and government overreach. Here’s Disney’s statement:
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. We have since had thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.
Disney’s playbook is obvious. They are clearly betting that the controversy will spark curiosity and boost viewership, with audiences tuning in just to hear what Kimmel says next. Still, the bigger picture isn’t promising. Ratings have been sliding for years, and signs point to his contract potentially not being renewed once it expires next year.
No surprise, Kimmel had no comment on his show’s reinstatement, offering no statement or social media post, which feels like a deliberate move to build suspense. Viewers will have to tune in Tuesday night to find out what he has to say.
Kimmel’s suspension stemmed from comments he made on-air last Monday referencing the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Kimmel’s remark implied the suspect was a MAGA supporter, despite contrary evidence, and went viral, triggering swift backlash from the right.
After much consumer complaint, Nexstar and Sinclair — two of the largest affiliate groups in the country, representing over 40 stations — announced they would not air Kimmel’s show.
Behind the scenes, Kimmel was reportedly planning to double down and defend his remarks, which Disney executives feared would only escalate the situation. Instead, Disney/ABC announced “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was suspended “indefinitely.”
The fallout in Hollywood was immediate. The guilds — SAG, DGA, and WGA — protested in front of Disney’s Burbank lot. An ACLU petition surfaced with 400 signatories, including Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, condemning the suspension. Damon Lindeloff (”Watchmen”) vowed to boycott Disney. Howard Stern cancelled his Disney+ subscription.
Despite Kimmel’s imminent return, it’s unclear whether the show will be fully restored nationwide. Sinclair has said it won’t reinstate “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” unless the host issues an apology, meets with its executives, and donates to Kirk’s Turning Point USA. Nexstar may very well follow suit.