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Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show will return to ABC on Tuesday, nearly a week after the network suspended it in response to backlash over the comedian’s remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
But viewers across much of the U.S. may still not see the broadcast. Sinclair, which operates more than 35 ABC affiliates, announced it will continue preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! in favor of local news coverage.
“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return,” the broadcaster said.
Disney, which owns ABC, framed Kimmel’s reinstatement as the result of “thoughtful conversations” with the host. “We made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” the company said Monday. “After conversations with Jimmy, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”
The suspension followed sharp criticism from Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, who denounced Kimmel’s remarks as “the sickest conduct possible.” ABC pulled the show the next day, saying it would halt production indefinitely.
Kimmel had expressed condolences to Kirk’s family but criticized Republicans for their reaction to his killing. “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,” Kimmel said.
Carr later denied threatening broadcast licenses, insisting Disney acted independently. “What I spoke about was that when concerns are raised about news distortion, there’s a way for parties to address that between local stations and national programmers,” Carr said Monday.
The move drew fierce criticism from free speech advocates and Hollywood heavyweights. The American Civil Liberties Union released an open letter signed by more than 400 celebrities, including Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, and Jennifer Aniston, calling Disney’s suspension “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
Anna M. Gomez, the FCC’s lone Democratic commissioner, hailed Kimmel’s reinstatement. “I am glad to see Disney find its courage in the face of clear government intimidation,” she said.
Still, some conservatives applauded ABC’s decision to suspend Kimmel, citing what they saw as his mischaracterization of the suspect. President Donald Trump claimed the host was pulled for “bad ratings,” while Vice President JD Vance quipped that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was “the new host.”
Even among Republicans, though, Carr’s role drew concern. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said on NBC’s Meet the Press: “Brendan Carr’s got no business weighing in on this. Despicable comments, you have the right to say them, but you don’t have the right to employment.”
The dispute underscores how one late-night show has become a flashpoint in the broader fight over free speech, government pressure, and political influence over the media.
