Sept. 23, 2025, Published 2:20 p.m. ET
Add Radar on Google
Article continues below advertisement
Disney has confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel will make his return to late-night television on Tuesday, September 23.
After a week filled with speculation and uncertainty regarding his future, Disney announced on Monday, September 22, that Kimmel’s suspension has ended, allowing him to return to his hosting duties on Tuesday.
As he prepares for his comeback, analysts and media commentators are keen to see how he will navigate this sensitive return. Grayce McCormick, founder of Lightfinder Public Relations, elaborated to RadarOnline.com that Kimmel needs to be strategic with his messaging while remaining true to his comedic roots.
“This is a moment for Kimmel to recalibrate,” she noted. “He must communicate carefully during his opening monologue, acknowledging the past controversy but also pivoting towards a broader dialogue about comedy, freedom of speech, and resilience.”
Article continues below advertisement
Impact of Controversy
Last week, protests erupted outside the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ studio following the announcement of his suspension.
Kimmel faced backlash during his last monologue, commenting on the tragic situation involving Charlie Kirk’s accused killer, saying: “We hit some impressive lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to twist this incident for political gain.”
The immediate fallout from these comments prompted swift reactions from the public and political figures, raising concerns about the long-lasting impacts on comedians and their ability to tackle sensitive topics in their routines, as highlighted by McCormick.
“Suspensions like this create a chilling atmosphere for comedians,” she warned. “They may come to question whether tackling satire is worth the potential repercussions from advertisers and officials.”
Article continues below advertisement
Going Dark
Kimmel’s show has been off the air since he made those controversial remarks.
In the wake of the controversial statements, network owners like Nexstar Media and Sinclair Broadcast Group swiftly decided they would not air Jimmy Kimmel Live! on their affiliates during Kimmel’s suspension. Disney subsequently pulled the show entirely from their prime lineup.
Despite Kimmel’s return, Nexstar and Sinclair are reportedly unenthusiastic about bringing him back to the airwaves soon, with Nexstar stating: “Our decision to preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ came after what ABC deemed to be ‘ill-timed and insensitive’ comments from Mr. Kimmel at a critical juncture in our national discourse.”
This has resulted in local news segments and other programming filling his former time slots for the time being.
READ MORE ON EXCLUSIVES
Disney’s Statement
Stay Updated
Get the latest news and updates from the entertainment industry straight to your inbox.
By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you are expressing consent for us to send you tailored marketing messages as well as expressing your agreement to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Hundreds of television stations continue to be unavailable for airing Kimmel’s show.
In justifying Disney’s decision to reinstate Kimmel, a statement released read: “Last Wednesday, we found it necessary to suspend production on the show to avoid escalating an already tense national situation. We believed some of Kimmel’s comments were ill-timed and insensitive.”
“Following thoughtful dialogues with Jimmy over the past few days, we have decided to resume the show on Tuesday,” concluded the statement.
This rewritten article maintains key points from the original while delivering fresh content. It preserves the HTML structure and is suitable for integration into a WordPress platform.
