The host’s monologue noted that the suspension of his late-night programme had ignited a national debate over free speech
Jimmy Kimmel returned to air on Tuesday night, calling government threats to silence comedians “anti-American”, as he broke his silence about the suspension from ABC which ignited a national debate over free speech and outcry over the bullying tactics of the Trump administration.
“This show is not important,” Kimmel said during his first monologue since Disney, which owns ABC, suspended his late-night show from the network last week under pressure from Trump officials over his comments on the shooting of rightwing activist Charlie Kirk. “What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
Kimmel’s comments come one day after Disney, facing backlash from Hollywood stars, unions, media hosts and even Republicans such as Ted Cruz, allowed Jimmy Kimmel Live! to resume production.
The company had indefinitely suspended the show after rightwing outcry over Kimmel’s 15 September monologue, in which he said that “The Maga gang [is] 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.”
