Jimmy Kimmel will return as the host of his late-night show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, on Tuesday after a brief suspension due to controversial comments he made regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Disney, the parent company of ABC, announced the reinstatement following what it described as "thoughtful conversations" with Kimmel.

The suspension occurred last week after Kimmel made remarks during his monologue that were deemed "ill-timed and thus insensitive". Disney stated that the decision to pause production was made to "avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country."

Kimmel's comments referenced the shooting of Charlie Kirk, who was killed on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. In his monologue, Kimmel criticized what he called the "MAGA gang" for attempting to politicize the tragedy. He stated, "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."

The backlash to Kimmel's remarks was swift, with some major ABC affiliates, including Nexstar and Sinclair, announcing they would pull his show from their stations. However, Kimmel also received support from over 400 celebrities who signed a letter advocating for his return.

Kirk's assassination has sparked intense political debate over issues such as gun violence and free speech, further polarizing public discourse in the United States. The incident has drawn attention to the media's role in shaping narratives around such events.

Kimmel has been a prominent figure in late-night television since 2003 and has hosted the Academy Awards multiple times. His suspension and subsequent reinstatement come amid a changing landscape for late-night television, with other shows facing cancellations and shifts in viewership.

As Kimmel prepares to return to the air, discussions about freedom of speech and the responsibilities of public figures continue to resonate in the media and entertainment industries.