Jimmy Kimmel is back on the schedule. After a brief, high-profile suspension over remarks he made about the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, ABC announced the return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 23, 2025 — six days after the program was pulled from air by some affiliates and labeled “indefinitely” suspended by the network. The reinstatement followed internal discussions between Disney/ABC and Kimmel.
Below we break down the timeline, what the controversy was about, how networks and regulators reacted, so stay tuned with us.
The Jimmy Kimmel Monologue That Started It All
On September 15, 2025, during his opening monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, host Jimmy Kimmel made a comment that would ignite a national controversy. He remarked that conservatives were attempting to exploit the assassination of Charlie Kirk for political gain, stating, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.” At the time, the FBI had not released information about the shooter’s background or political affiliations, and the investigation was ongoing.
The comment quickly drew backlash from various quarters. On September 17, 2025, several major ABC affiliate groups, including Nexstar and Sinclair, announced they would not air Jimmy Kimmel Live! in response to the remarks. The following day, ABC suspended the show indefinitely, citing the “ill-timed and insensitive” nature of Kimmel’s comments.
The situation escalated when Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr publicly criticized Kimmel’s remarks and warned ABC that failure to act could result in regulatory consequences. Carr’s comments were interpreted by some as government overreach, leading to further debate over the balance between free speech and media accountability.
After several days of internal discussions, Disney, ABC’s parent company, announced on September 22, 2025, that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would return to the air on Tuesday, September 23. The network stated that the suspension was a response to concerns over the timing and sensitivity of Kimmel’s remarks and that after thoughtful conversations with the host, they decided to reinstate the show.
(Image Source: Instagram)
The controversy surrounding Kimmel’s monologue has sparked a broader conversation about the role of media in political discourse, the limits of free speech, and the influence of government agencies on media content. As the situation continues to develop, it remains to be seen what long-term effects this incident will have on late-night television and the broader media landscape.
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“Jimmy Kimmel Fired” — did he get fired?
Short answer: No — Jimmy Kimmel is not fired.
There were headlines and hot takes that used the word “fired,” but official reporting from ABC, Reuters, AP and other major outlets shows Kimmel was suspended briefly and then reinstated — he has not been terminated from his role as host. The network’s decision to resume the show makes a firing narrative inaccurate. If anything, the episode highlights how network/affiliate politics and FCC pressure can create rapid, public shifts in late-night programming.
“JKL” — show status and what to expect
“JKL” (Jimmy Kimmel Live!) is set to resume airing on ABC as of Sept 23, 2025. Expect a return episode that will likely be framed carefully by the network — after high-level talks and public debate, networks often choose to soften opening remarks or steer the first broadcast toward guests and entertainment rather than repeat the precise contentious material. ABC’s episode listings and the show’s official pages were updated to reflect scheduled programming.
“Jimmy Kimmel monologue last night” — what did he say?
Jimmy Kimmel’s recent monologue that triggered the backlash criticized the political framing around the Charlie Kirk assassination, and he accused certain commentators of misrepresenting the shooter’s motives or political alignment to serve agendas. Some viewers and political figures called the remarks “offensive and insensitive,” and FCC chair Brendan Carr publicly objected, which triggered affiliate pullbacks. Reports summarize the monologue as blunt and politically charged — it’s the direct cause of the suspension and the national conversation that followed. If you want verbatim lines, I can pull direct quotes from transcripts, but the core reporting is that his critique of political exploitation of the tragedy sparked the controversy.
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“Jimmy Kimmel live” — affiliates, FCC, and corporate pressure
A few important facts: major affiliate owners (notably Nexstar and Sinclair) temporarily stopped broadcasting the show in response to the monologue and the FCC attention; those local decisions, plus the public rebuke from the FCC chair, drove ABC to pause the show briefly. Disney later said it had conversations with Kimmel and decided to bring the show back, a move many viewed as the company pushing back against regulatory pressure and defending its programming decisions. The situation has immediately sparked debate about editorial independence, FCC authority, and corporate risk during politically charged moments.
Jimmy Kimmel Net Worth — the quick figure
Multiple entertainment finance outlets updated Jimmy Kimmel’s estimated net worth amid coverage of the controversy. As of September 2025, widely cited estimates place Jimmy Kimmel’s net worth at around $50 million, with annual earnings figures reported in the mid-to-high single-digit millions (salary estimates around $15–16M/year appear in some publications).
(Image Source: Reuters)
These are estimations from CelebrityNetWorth, Parade and other entertainment finance sites — useful for context, but note these figures are estimates, not audited public filings.
Reactions to Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension!
The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! has sparked significant reactions across various sectors, raising concerns about free speech and media independence. Prominent Hollywood figures, including Robert De Niro, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Selena Gomez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Hanks, and Meryl Streep, have signed an open letter organized by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The letter criticizes the suspension as a violation of constitutional rights and urges Americans to defend and preserve free speech.
Additionally, Democratic lawmakers have condemned the suspension, with some calling for investigations into the actions of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Disney. Senator Ted Cruz labeled the FCC’s involvement as “dangerous” and compared it to “mafia-style threats.”
FCC’s Role in the Suspension: Government Influence on Media Content
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s public criticism of Kimmel’s remarks and subsequent warnings to ABC affiliates have been central to the controversy. Carr suggested that broadcasters could face fines or license revocation if they continued airing the show, leading to its temporary removal from several stations. While Carr denied that the government played a role in the suspension, his comments have raised questions about the extent of governmental influence over media content.
The incident has prompted discussions about the balance between government oversight and media independence, with some lawmakers and legal experts expressing concern over potential overreach.
Affiliate Stations’ Response: Impact on Local Broadcasting and Ratings
The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! also highlighted the influence of local affiliate stations on national programming. Major affiliates, including Nexstar and Sinclair, chose to preempt the show following the controversy. Sinclair, the nation’s largest owner of ABC-affiliated TV stations, stated that it would not air Kimmel’s show unless “appropriate steps” were taken, including a direct apology from Kimmel and a donation to Charlie Kirk’s family and nonprofit.
These actions underscore the significant role that affiliate stations play in determining the content broadcast to local audiences, and their decisions can have substantial effects on national programming and viewership.
Bottom line
Jimmy Kimmel’s show was briefly pulled after an incendiary monologue about the Charlie Kirk assassination, but ABC announced the show’s return on Sept 23, 2025, after internal discussions. He wasn’t fired; the episode underscores how late-night hosts now operate in a high-stakes mix of corporate, political, and regulatory pressures. Estimated net worth: ~$50 million (industry estimates).
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