Return of Jimmy Kimmel: standing ovation and emotional confession
24 september 2025 в 08:28
The show Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned to the airwaves less than a week after its widely discussed suspension on ABC. After six days of intense headlines and debates about the concept of free speech, Jimmy Kimmel returned to the stage and was greeted with a standing ovation from his audience in Los Angeles; his parents were also in the audience, according to one attendee. But it was Kimmel’s monologue that the whole country was waiting for.
If you haven’t been able to watch Jimmy Kimmel Live! show, we have a brief summary of his monologue below.
Most cable TV users can watch Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC. However, stations owned by Nexstar Media Group or Sinclair Broadcast Group did not air the episode of Jimmy Kimmel on September 23.
Fans can watch Kimmel’s return on Hulu or Disney+ channels after its release.
Kimmel immediately got to the point in his monologue, clarifying that his joke about the «MAGA gang» was not intended as a joke about the killing of Charlie Kirk.
«My intention was never to joke about the murder of a young man», - Kimmel said, his voice trembling with emotion. «I don’t think there’s anything funny about that. … [It was not] my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of a clearly disturbed individual», - he added, referring to the alleged shooter of Kirk, Tyler Robinson.
«It was really the opposite of what I was trying to say, but I understand that for some it may have seemed inappropriate or unclear, or perhaps both», - the comedian noted. «And for those who feel that I pointed fingers, I understand why you are upset. If the situation were reversed, there’s a good chance I would have felt the same».
Kimmel made sure to praise Kirk’s widow, Erica Kirk, for forgiving her late husband’s killer.
«She forgave him. This is an example we should follow», - Kimmel continued. «If you believe in the teachings of Jesus, like I do, here it is. An act of selfless mercy. Forgiveness from a grieving widow. This deeply touched me, and I hope it touches many others. And if there’s something we should take from this tragedy to carry forward, I hope it’s this».
Kimmel then discussed President Donald Trump’s calls for him and several of his late-night colleagues, including Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon, to be fired from their networks.
«The President of the United States has made it clear that he wants me and hundreds of people working here to be fired from our jobs», - Kimmel pointed out. «Our leader celebrates the loss of Americans' livelihoods because he can’t take a joke. He managed to push [Stephen] Colbert off CBS, then turned his attention to me, and now openly cheers for NBC to fire Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, and hundreds of Americans working on their shows who don’t earn millions of dollars. And I hope that if this happens, or even if there’s a hint of it, you will be 10 times louder than you were this week».
Regarding Disney’s decision to take him off the air, Kimmel admitted, «I disagreed with that decision, and I told them that, and we had many conversations».
«I expressed my point of view; they expressed theirs», - he explained. «We discussed it, and ultimately, although they didn’t have to, they really shouldn’t have — it’s a giant company. We have short memories, and I — a tiny part of the Disney corporation. They welcomed me back on the air, and I thank them for that».
Finally, one of Kimmel’s most important arguments was the concept of freedom of speech. Pointing out that he had spoken with comedians from other countries, including Russia, Kimmel said, «Our freedom to speak is what they admire most about this country, and it’s something I’m ashamed to say I took for granted until they took my friend Stephen off the air and tried to pressure affiliated stations that broadcast our show in the cities where you live to take my show off the air»
If you haven’t been able to watch Jimmy Kimmel Live! show, we have a brief summary of his monologue below.
Most cable TV users can watch Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC. However, stations owned by Nexstar Media Group or Sinclair Broadcast Group did not air the episode of Jimmy Kimmel on September 23.
Fans can watch Kimmel’s return on Hulu or Disney+ channels after its release.
Kimmel immediately got to the point in his monologue, clarifying that his joke about the «MAGA gang» was not intended as a joke about the killing of Charlie Kirk.
«My intention was never to joke about the murder of a young man», - Kimmel said, his voice trembling with emotion. «I don’t think there’s anything funny about that. … [It was not] my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of a clearly disturbed individual», - he added, referring to the alleged shooter of Kirk, Tyler Robinson.
«It was really the opposite of what I was trying to say, but I understand that for some it may have seemed inappropriate or unclear, or perhaps both», - the comedian noted. «And for those who feel that I pointed fingers, I understand why you are upset. If the situation were reversed, there’s a good chance I would have felt the same».
Kimmel made sure to praise Kirk’s widow, Erica Kirk, for forgiving her late husband’s killer.
«She forgave him. This is an example we should follow», - Kimmel continued. «If you believe in the teachings of Jesus, like I do, here it is. An act of selfless mercy. Forgiveness from a grieving widow. This deeply touched me, and I hope it touches many others. And if there’s something we should take from this tragedy to carry forward, I hope it’s this».
Kimmel then discussed President Donald Trump’s calls for him and several of his late-night colleagues, including Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon, to be fired from their networks.
«The President of the United States has made it clear that he wants me and hundreds of people working here to be fired from our jobs», - Kimmel pointed out. «Our leader celebrates the loss of Americans' livelihoods because he can’t take a joke. He managed to push [Stephen] Colbert off CBS, then turned his attention to me, and now openly cheers for NBC to fire Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, and hundreds of Americans working on their shows who don’t earn millions of dollars. And I hope that if this happens, or even if there’s a hint of it, you will be 10 times louder than you were this week».
Regarding Disney’s decision to take him off the air, Kimmel admitted, «I disagreed with that decision, and I told them that, and we had many conversations».
«I expressed my point of view; they expressed theirs», - he explained. «We discussed it, and ultimately, although they didn’t have to, they really shouldn’t have — it’s a giant company. We have short memories, and I — a tiny part of the Disney corporation. They welcomed me back on the air, and I thank them for that».
Finally, one of Kimmel’s most important arguments was the concept of freedom of speech. Pointing out that he had spoken with comedians from other countries, including Russia, Kimmel said, «Our freedom to speak is what they admire most about this country, and it’s something I’m ashamed to say I took for granted until they took my friend Stephen off the air and tried to pressure affiliated stations that broadcast our show in the cities where you live to take my show off the air»
© Artemenko Olga
