ABC’s late-night television landscape witnessed a notable moment when Jimmy Kimmel returned to his show, sharing an emotional defense of free speech. The host expressed regret over the perception of his comments related to the killing of Charlie Kirk, a situation that drew several critiques and escalated tensions with political figures.
Late-Night Hosts Unite Against Trump
In a surprising collaboration, Kimmel joined forces with fellow late-night hosts Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers. A social media post featuring the trio was captioned, “Hi Donald!” marking a unique crossover during Colbert’s guest appearance on the Sept. 30 episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Meyers made an unexpected appearance during the taping, joining Kimmel and Colbert in their criticism of former President Donald Trump. This solidarity came after Kimmel’s show faced scrutiny from Trump-appointed Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, who echoed criticisms from Sinclair Broadcasting Group and Nexstar Media Group regarding Kimmel’s remarks.
Kimmel’s Show Suspension and Return
- Show Suspension: On Sept. 26, both Sinclair and Nexstar stopped airing Kimmel’s show on their ABC stations.
- Return to Air: Kimmel returned to the airwaves after a temporary suspension, with Colbert celebrating this on his show.
Colbert, in a joyful declaration on his Sept. 22 episode of “The Late Show,” stated, “Our long, national late-night nightmare is over.” He expressed happiness for Kimmel and his team, flaunting his recent Emmy award for best talk series.
Trump’s Reaction to Late-Night Hosts
The former President has consistently expressed disdain towards Kimmel, Colbert, and Meyers. Following the temporary cancellation of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, Trump took to Truth Social, mocking Kimmel and suggesting that NBC should also cancel Meyers and Jimmy Fallon. On Sept. 18, he claimed, “Kimmel has ZERO talent and worse ratings than even Colbert…”
This ongoing feud highlights the contentious relationship between these late-night hosts and the political figure, as they remain steadfast in their criticism of his administration.
