NEW YORK CITY, New York: ABC reinstated Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show following a period of suspension over his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, network officials said.

"We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on September 23," ABC said in a statement.

Kimmel, host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2003, was suspended indefinitely on September 17 after remarks in a monologue regarding Kirk, who was killed on September 10. Kimmel had said that "many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk" and that "the MAGA gang" was "desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them."

The suspension sparked immediate controversy. ABC's affiliates Nexstar and Sinclair, two of its largest station owners, announced they would not air Kimmel's show. Sinclair confirmed it would replace the program with news coverage while continuing discussions with ABC about the show's return. Nexstar has not commented on its plans regarding Kimmel's reinstatement.

Andrew Kolvet, spokesperson for Turning Point USA, the organization founded by Kirk and now led by his widow, criticized ABC and Disney on social media, saying, "Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmel back on the air is not surprising, but it's their mistake to make. Nexstar and Sinclair do not have to make the same choice."

The suspension and subsequent return came amid a broader climate of tension between conservative figures and the media. During this period, President Trump and his administration have pursued lawsuits, settlements, and other efforts to influence media coverage, including settlements with ABC and CBS and defamation suits against major publications like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Republicans in Congress have also cut federal funding to NPR and PBS.

Brendan Carr, head of the Federal Communications Commission, had issued a warning criticizing Kimmel's remarks prior to the suspension. Meanwhile, the late-night television landscape is shifting, with CBS announcing the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's show over the summer. Colbert reacted to Kimmel's reinstatement on the Late Show, telling viewers that "our long national, late nightmare is over."

Kimmel's contract with ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Company, was set to expire in May 2026. More than 430 actors, comedians, directors, and writers signed an open letter organized by the American Civil Liberties Union, describing the suspension as "a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation." Kimmel's representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment.