Jimmy Kimmel has ‘no illusions about changing anyone’s mind’, breaks down while clarifying his comments on Charlie Kirk's killing after his return to ABC

Jimmy Kimmel, late-night talk show host, returned to “Jimmy Kimmel Live” after facing a six-day suspension from ABC over his remarks on the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.

Following his return, Kimmel nearly broke down in tears, saying he wasn't trying to joke about the killing of Kirk. He said that he had no intention of making light of the murder of a young man.

“I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind, but I do want to make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human and that is, you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man," Kimmel said, his voice breaking. "I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.”


ALSO READ: Trump celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods: Jimmy Kimmel slams US president on his return to Jimmy Kimmel Live after six-day suspension

Before his suspension, Kimmel, during his late-night show, had said, "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," Kimmel said on his Monday night show.

Further explaining his statements, which got him booted off the air, Kimmel said, “Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make.” He said he understood his remarks last week to some “felt either ill-timed or unclear or maybe both.”

Kimmel criticized the ABC affiliates who took his show off the air. “That’s not legal. That’s not American. It’s un-American.” He thanked the people who supported him and even people who don’t like him who stood up for his right to speak, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. “It takes courage for them to speak out against this administration. They did and they deserve credit for it.”

ABC, which suspended Kimmel’s show last Wednesday following criticism of his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, announced Monday that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would return after the network had “thoughtful conversations” with the host.