Jimmy Kimmel returned to Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 23, 2025, after ABC ended his suspension. In an opening monologue lasting more than 15 minutes, he said he had not meant to make light of Charlie Kirk’s killing, rejected collective blame and political violence, criticized FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s comments as censorship, and praised Erika Kirk’s forgiveness. The available reports provide selected quotations and excerpts—not an authenticated, complete transcript—so the passages below are not presented as his full monologue.
What Kimmel said about his earlier remarks
Kimmel addressed his comments about the killing of Charlie Kirk that had led ABC to suspend the show. He said, “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” and added, “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.” He also said he had not intended to blame a particular group.
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He acknowledged that some viewers heard his earlier remarks as pointing a finger at a group and understood why they were upset. He said his point may have come across as “ill-timed or unclear or maybe both.” These were explanations of his intent and an acknowledgment of how the remarks landed; they should not be confused with the earlier wording that prompted the controversy.
What he said about blame and political violence
Kimmel rejected the idea that Kirk’s killer represented a wider group, saying: “I don’t think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone. This was a sick person who believed violence was a solution. And it isn’t — ever.”
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The earlier controversy stemmed from Kimmel’s claim that “the MAGA gang” was trying to characterize Kirk’s killer as other than one of their own and capitalize politically on the killing. ABC suspended the show after those comments; in the return monologue, Kimmel said he had not meant to blame a particular group. The Associated Press reported the suspension and the earlier remarks on September 22, 2025.
What he said about free expression and Brendan Carr
Kimmel framed the dispute as one about free expression and criticized FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s public comments as an effort at “un-American” censorship. He said: “This show is not important. What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
Why he praised Erika Kirk
Near the end of the monologue, Kimmel referred to Erika Kirk’s comments at her husband’s memorial. He called her forgiveness “a selfless act of grace” and said it touched him deeply. He hoped people would carry that response forward rather than the division surrounding the killing and its aftermath.
How long the monologue lasted—and what the reports include
ABC Audio described the opening as more than 15 minutes long; the Associated Press rounded it to 16 minutes. Both accounts characterize it as a mix of humor, pointed remarks and emotion. ABC Audio also reported that a later segment included a satellite sketch featuring Robert De Niro as an FCC commissioner.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The published accounts offer selected moments, not a verified word-for-word transcript. The Associated Press says its excerpts were edited for clarity and brevity, and the passages quoted here are not necessarily consecutive. For the reported key moments, see the Associated Press account and ABC Audio’s September 24 report.
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ABC said it had paused production the previous Wednesday to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment, and that it considered some of Kimmel’s comments ill-timed and insensitive. After conversations with Kimmel, the company decided to bring the show back on Tuesday, September 23. The Walt Disney Company said, as reported by ABC Audio: “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.”
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The network’s decision did not mean the program aired on every ABC affiliate. Nexstar and Sinclair said their stations would continue to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! at the time, substituting other programming. CBS News also reported the continued preemptions; the reports do not support saying the show was unavailable everywhere.
Where viewers could find the episode
ABC Audio reported on September 24, 2025, that full episodes were available the next day on Hulu and Disney+, with clips on YouTube. That is a dated availability report, not confirmation of current access: streaming options can change by date and region.
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