Jimmy Kimmel used his return to Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tuesday night to directly address the controversy that triggered his suspension from ABC last week.
“I want to make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human,” Kimmel told his audience. “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.”
Kimmel noted that on the day of the killing he had posted a message of sympathy to Charlie Kirk’s family. “I posted a message on Instagram on the day he was killed sending love to his family and asking for compassion and I meant it. And I still do.”
KIMMEL: "It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man (fake cries). I don't think the murderer represents anyone, it was a sick person who thought violence was the solution."
— Sara Rose 🇺🇸🌹 (@saras76) September 24, 2025
BULLSHIT. pic.twitter.com/QDOvFmF5mz
The host said his earlier remark was misunderstood as placing blame on a political group. “Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions—it was a deeply disturbed individual,” he said. “That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make, but to some, that felt ill timed or unclear or maybe both, and for those who think I did point a finger, I get why you’re upset.”
The host admitted he might have felt similarly if the roles were flipped. “If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I would have felt the same way,” he said, emphasizing that he has close friends and family members with opposing political views.
“I don’t think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone,” Kimmel said. “This was a sick person who believed violence was a solution, and it isn’t. Ever.”
Kimmel’s clarification came amid a marathon two-segment monologue that touched on nearly every aspect of his suspension and the uproar surrounding it on both sides of the aisle. At turns grateful and defiant, he reserved his strongest words for Donald Trump and FCC chairman Brendan Carr, whose podcast comments preceded ABC’s decision to take him off the air.
