Jimmy Kimmel is back on late-night television across the United States after a turbulent two-week standoff that pitted TV station owners, network executives, political figures, and free speech advocates against one another. The return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! to the airwaves of Sinclair and Nexstar’s ABC affiliates marks the end of a dramatic episode that raised thorny questions about media power, political influence, and the boundaries of broadcast speech.
The saga began on September 16, 2025, when Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group—two of America’s largest local TV station owners—pulled Kimmel’s show from their ABC stations. The move came in response to Kimmel’s comments on his September 15 monologue regarding the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah Valley University event on September 10. Kimmel, in his typical acerbic style, accused “the MAGA gang” of “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, investigators had not released details about the suspect’s motives, and Kimmel’s remarks struck a nerve across the political spectrum.
The fallout was swift. According to BBC, Sinclair and Nexstar’s decision to drop Jimmy Kimmel Live! left about a quarter of ABC’s stations without the late-night staple, disrupting viewing in cities like Washington, D.C., Nashville, New Orleans, and Seattle. The controversy escalated when Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), publicly condemned Kimmel’s remarks as “the sickest conduct possible” and threatened to revoke ABC’s broadcast license if the network failed to act. The pressure campaign from the FCC was widely seen as a pivotal factor in the stations’ decision to preempt the show, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Disney, ABC’s parent company, responded by briefly suspending Kimmel. Behind the scenes, a flurry of negotiations unfolded. Sinclair, which owns 30 ABC affiliates in 27 markets, initially demanded that Kimmel issue a personal apology to Kirk’s family and make a significant donation to Turning Point USA, the conservative organization Kirk founded. Nexstar, meanwhile, was in the midst of seeking FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna—a process that could be jeopardized by regulatory friction. Both station groups faced contractual obligations to carry ABC programming and the possibility that prolonged preemption could allow ABC to shift its lineup to other outlets, according to sources cited by CNBC and BBC.
Yet, despite these demands and the political heat, no concessions were ultimately made by Kimmel or Disney. Sinclair, in a Friday statement, said its preemption decision was “independent of any government interaction or influence,” emphasizing, “Free speech provides broadcasters with the right to exercise judgment as to the content on their local stations.” The company added, “While we understand that not everyone will agree with our decisions about programming, it is simply inconsistent to champion free speech while demanding that broadcasters air specific content.” Sinclair also revealed it had proposed “ongoing and constructive discussions” with ABC and Disney, including the idea of hiring a “network-wide independent ombudsman” to oversee content, though Disney has “not yet adopted these measures.”
On the other side, Nexstar cited positive discussions with ABC, expressing appreciation for the network’s “constructive approach to addressing our concerns” and a commitment to “protecting the First Amendment.” Both groups, which together own 70 ABC affiliates covering 23% of U.S. households, ultimately agreed to reinstate the show on Friday, September 26, 2025, after a nine-day blackout.
The return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! was met with a surge in viewership. According to Los Angeles Times, Kimmel’s comeback episode on Tuesday, September 23, drew a record 6.26 million viewers for its regular 11:35 p.m. slot, with more than 26 million additional views on YouTube and social media. Even with more than a quarter of U.S. households unable to watch due to the blackout, the audience more than quadrupled compared to typical nights—a testament to the show’s enduring appeal and the public’s curiosity about the controversy.
On air, Kimmel addressed the uproar with a 28-minute monologue that struck a tone of regret and defiance. “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” he said, his voice wavering with emotion. But he didn’t shy away from criticizing the political forces arrayed against him. “Our leader celebrates people losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke,” Kimmel declared, referring to former President Donald Trump. He also railed against “anti-American” threats to free speech, accusing the Trump administration of “mob tactics.”
The controversy has not gone unnoticed in Washington. Four Democratic lawmakers announced a probe into whether Sinclair and Nexstar’s decisions to pull Kimmel’s show were related to regulatory issues pending with the Trump administration. The timing of the blackout, coinciding with Nexstar’s merger ambitions and Sinclair’s own exploratory merger talks, has fueled speculation about political motivations behind the station owners’ actions. As NBC News reported, the episode has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over media consolidation, regulatory leverage, and the independence of news and entertainment programming.
For their part, Sinclair and Nexstar have insisted their primary objective was to ensure programming that “remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience,” while fulfilling their obligations as local broadcasters. “We take seriously our responsibility as local broadcasters to provide programming that serves the interests of our communities, while also honoring our obligations to air national network programming,” Sinclair stated.
The Walt Disney Company, meanwhile, has kept a low profile, declining to comment publicly on the details of the negotiations or the decision to bring Kimmel back. However, the outcome reflects the delicate balance between national networks and local affiliates—each reliant on the other for revenue, reach, and relevance, but not always aligned when controversy erupts.
Not everyone celebrated Kimmel’s return. Former President Trump, never one to mince words, posted on social media, “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back.” The remark underscored the lingering political tensions that continue to swirl around the late-night host and his show.
As the dust settles, the Kimmel saga offers a vivid illustration of the complex interplay between media companies, government regulators, advertisers, and the viewing public. It’s a reminder that, in America’s ever-evolving media landscape, the fight over who gets to speak—and who decides what’s heard—remains as fierce as ever.
For now, viewers across the country can once again tune in to Jimmy Kimmel Live!—and the debate over free speech, political influence, and the future of broadcasting is sure to rage on in living rooms, boardrooms, and the halls of power alike.
