Jimmy Kimmel Details Suspension After Charlie Kirk Comments

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel said he feared the end of his late-night show after it was temporarily suspended following his remarks on the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk.

"A list of demands was presented to me, and I was not going to go along with any of them," Kimmel told the Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday. "And it's like, well, I guess we're done. I said to my wife, 'That's it. It's over."

In his first public interview since returning to the air, Kimmel said his comments about Kirk’s death were “intentionally and maliciously mischaracterized” by political opponents. The host had become a central figure in recent culture wars, prompting Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr to advise TV stations to drop the show or face potential regulatory consequences.

Kimmel, whose contract expires in May, declined to comment on whether he will continue hosting beyond that point. Several station owners, along with the network, suspended the program for several days, sparking national debate over free speech. Some requested that Kimmel apologize and donate to Kirk’s cause.

He returned to the air on Sept. 23, achieving record ratings. Station owners reinstated the show on their lineups later that week.

During his Sept. 15 monologue, Kimmel criticized Republicans for leveraging Kirk's death to attack political opponents, saying, "We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to characterize this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them." At the conference, Kimmel emphasized that his comments were intended to correct perceived distortions by right-wing media.

Kimmel revealed that he did not script his return monologue, stating it had to come from personal reflection and honesty. While he expressed reluctance to invite FCC Chairman Carr on the show, he indicated he would consider inviting former President Donald Trump.

Despite strong fan support and solidarity from fellow late-night hosts, Kimmel acknowledged the broader challenges facing the format. Declining ratings, competition from streaming platforms, and changes in viewership patterns have put pressure on late-night programming. One network recently announced the cancellation of a late-night show after its current season, citing financial reasons.

Kimmel attributed some of his own ratings pressures to weak lead-in shows and the widespread availability of clips online. Nevertheless, he maintained that shows like his and others are not losing tens of millions of dollars, pointing to revenue streams from local stations.

When asked about leadership changes at the network, Kimmel declined to speculate but praised the TV chief for handling his suspension and return. "I ruined Dana’s weekend" with constant calls, he said, "but I don’t think the result would have been as positive if I hadn’t talked to Dana as much as I did. I love Dana Walden very much and think she’s done a great job."