“We reached the decision to return the show”: Disney announces ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ will return on Tuesday

Disney has said that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be back on the air from September 23, 2025. The show has been off air since last Wednesday. The break followed strong criticism of the comments Jimmy Kimmel made about the killing of Charlie Kirk. Disney says it spoke with Kimmel during the suspension, and they felt some of his remarks were ill-timed or insensitive.

The decision to suspend came after major pressure. The Federal Communications Commission chairman, Brendan Carr, threatened stations that air the show. Station groups like Nexstar and Sinclair said they might stop airing the show. ABC and Disney said they did this to avoid making things more tense for the country.

Disney says that after "thoughtful conversations" with Kimmel, they chose to return. The statement says the pause was to prevent further harm and that the timing of some comments was not right. It reads,

"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. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. 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."

What led to the Jimmy Kimmel Live! suspension, and what changed?

Jimmy Kimmel made a comment during his monologue about Charlie Kirk’s assassination. He said that some MAGA supporters were trying to distance themselves from the shooter while also using the event politically. After that comment, Brendan Carr, the FCC chair, publicly said that broadcasters could face consequences if they aired shows that did not meet certain standards. He said there would be regulatory pressure.

Stations owned by Nexstar and Sinclair said they would stop running Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the time being. ABC then suspended production and broadcast "indefinitely." There was backlash as many in entertainment, politics, media unions, and the public criticized ABC and Disney. Some said it was a threat to free speech, and some threatened to cancel subscriptions. There were calls for ABC to restore the show. Over the past few days, Disney and ABC held talks with Jimmy Kimmel. They discussed how to move forward, and after those discussions, Disney announced that the show would return on Tuesday.

What is still unclear, and what to watch?

It is not yet clear whether all TV stations will air Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday. Some affiliate stations, like those owned by Sinclair and Nexstar, might still refuse unless certain conditions are met. Kimmel has not made many public statements since the suspension.

Another thing to watch is the role of the FCC. Carr’s threats were part of why the show was pulled. How much influence he and his office had is under discussion. People are watching to see if this will affect what other networks can say or show. Also, public and industry reaction may shape what happens next. The open letter by artists, the responses on social media, and pressure from unions and entertainment figures may matter in how ABC and Disney act in the future.

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Thus, Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return this Tuesday after being taken off the air the prior week. Disney says it suspended the show to avoid inflaming tension, then made its decision after talking with Kimmel. Many details are still unresolved: which stations will air it, how Kimmel will address the issues, and what role government pressure may have played.

The situation continues to draw attention to free speech, media responsibility, and the power held by regulators and broadcasters.

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