Jimmy Kimmel’s first show back after being suspended drew sharp backlash Tuesday, as the late-night host fought back tears while addressing the controversy over his comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Kimmel grew visibly emotional as he spoke about Erika Kirk’s decision to forgive the man who killed her husband.
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“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 said.
Jimmy Kimmel begins to tear up as he says the moment Erika Kirk forgave her husband’s killer on Sunday “touched him deeply.”
— Vigilant Fox ???? (@VigilantFox) September 24, 2025
He called it an example the world should follow.
“On Sunday, Erika Kirk forgave the man who shot her husband. She forgave him.”
“That is an example we… pic.twitter.com/4Ufxb9Ehak
He praised Erika’s decision to forgive, calling it a “selfless act of grace” and telling viewers, “That is an example we should follow.”
Despite his tears, Kimmel mentioned Kirk only once, and his failure to deliver a direct apology set off a storm of criticism.
Piers Morgan dismissed the host’s emotion as insincere, writing: “Hard to feel sympathy for Jimmy Kimmel and his crocodile tears given how gleefully he has always gorged on the career entrails of conservative stars who lost their jobs like Tucker, Roseanne etc. He’s become a partisan political activist, not a comedic host.”
Hard to feel sympathy for Jimmy Kimmel and his crocodile tears given how gleefully he has always gorged on the career entrails of conservative stars who lost their jobs like Tucker, Roseanne etc.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 24, 2025
He’s become a partisan political activist, not a comedic host.
Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of The Charlie Kirk Show and Turning Point USA spokesperson, said Kimmel’s response was “not good enough.”
He even suggested the apology the comedian should have delivered: “I’m sorry for saying the shooter was MAGA. He was not. He was of the left. I apologize to the Kirk family for lying. Please accept my sincere apology. I will do better. I was wrong.”
Kimmel also reflected on the suspension itself, telling viewers that while his show may not be significant, free expression is.
KIMMEL DOESN’T APOLOGIZE, OFFERS CLARIFICATION ON CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS IN RETURN TO TALK SHOW
“This show is not important. What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this,” he said.
Disney restored the program after what it described as “thoughtful conversations” with the host, following a week-long suspension that drew both outrage and support. Figures from David Letterman to former President Barack Obama defended Kimmel, while others pushed for boycotts of Disney+ and Hulu.