Overview

• Kimmel opened his first show back with an emotional monologue, saying it was never his intention to make light of Charlie Kirk’s killing and stressing that the shooter does not represent any group.
• Nexstar and Sinclair continued to preempt the program across their ABC affiliates, affecting roughly 23% of U.S. households and limiting the show’s reach in multiple markets.
• Disney and ABC said the earlier remarks were ill-timed and thus insensitive and brought the show back after what the company called thoughtful conversations with Kimmel, without labeling the comments misleading.
• FCC Chair Brendan Carr previously urged local stations to drop the show and warned of potential regulatory consequences, a move that drew civil-liberties objections and bipartisan criticism.
• The suspension and reinstatement prompted industry and public backlash, including an ACLU-backed letter signed by hundreds, while President Trump praised the suspension and condemned the return.