“Jimmy Kimmel Live” will return to Sinclair Broadcast Group’s ABC affiliates on Friday, the company announced on social media, ending a preemption related to the late-night host’s remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“Over the last week, we have received thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives,” Sinclair said in a statement Friday. “We have also witnessed troubling acts of violence, including the despicable incident of a shooting at an ABC affiliate station in Sacramento. These events underscore why responsible broadcasting matters and why respectful dialogue between differing voices remains so important.”
Sinclair’s announcement comes three days after Disney’s ABC network lifted its suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Kimmel was pulled from the air last Wednesday after FCC chairman Brendan Carr threatened regulatory action against the network after this comment Kimmel made during last Monday’s opening monologue about Tyler Robinson, 22, the man accused of killing Kirk at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10:
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
Nexstar Media Group, the parent company of KTLA, and Sinclair opted to preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after the comments, forcing ABC to suspend the program for several days before bringing it back on Tuesday.
Nexstar continues to preempt Kimmel’s show on its ABC-affiliated stations and has not provided an update. Sinclair is the largest owner of ABC affiliate stations.
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