A defiant but emotional Jimmy Kimmel failed yet again to apologize for his false and inflammatory comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination in the late-night show host’s return to the air Tuesday after spending nearly a week on the sidelines.
Kimmel didn’t roll back claims that Kirk’s alleged killer Tyler Robinson was likely affiliated with the MAGA movement, but the comic teared up while praising the slain conservative activist’s wife Erika Kirk during his highly anticipated monologue.
“She forgave him. That is an example we should follow. If you believe in the teachings of Jesus, as I do, there it was. That’s it. A selfless act of grace,” Kimmel said in his opening remarks.
“Forgiveness from a grieving widow. It touched me deeply. If there’s anything we should take from this tragedy to carry forward, I hope it can be that.”
Shortly before the late show aired, President Trump blasted ABC to reinstate Kimmel’s show.
“I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back,” Trump fumed in a Truth Social post.
“The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his “talent” was never there.”
“Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE,” the president added.
Kimmel’s show was suspended by ABC last Wednesday after his incendiary comments about Kirk, sparking outrage from conservatives that was only amplified over his continued refusal to issue a mea culpa.
Kimmel negotiated his return with Disney’s head honcho Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment Co-Chair Dana Walden, sources told The Post – though it was unclear under what conditions, if any, the two sides agreed upon.
The suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” also prompted widespread boycotts against Disney, ABC’s parent company, for alleged media suppression and First Amendment violations.
Even executives within Disney, including former CEO Michael Eisner, condemned the move as a cowardly surrender to “out-of-control intimidation” from the FCC.
Some irate fans, including radio legend Howard Stern, cancelled their Disney+ subscriptions in protest.
Not everyone bent to the House of Mouse’s knee, though.
ABC stations owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group announced Monday night that it would refuse to air “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and air standard news programming in its place.
“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return,” the company said in a statement.
Sinclair Broadcast Group owns just 41 of ABC’s sum-odd 250 affiliate stations.
Nexstar Media Group, which operates 32 other ABC affiliates, announced on Tuesday that it would follow in Sinclair’s footsteps and “preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’” for the foreseeable future.
The cluster of networks that won’t air the show are primarily spread across the East Coast, including key markets in cities like Syracuse, Albany and Hartford.
The White House has denied that Kimmel’s suspension was the result of government-driven suppression of speech.
This is a breaking story. Please check back for updates.
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