Jimmy Kimmel Live! is set to return to ABC on Tuesday evening after a week-long suspension. The show was pulled from the air following Kimmel's comments regarding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot during a university event in Utah. Kimmel's remarks, made during a September 14 episode, sparked significant backlash, leading to the suspension.

Disney, the parent company of ABC, announced the show's return, stating, "Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country." The company acknowledged that Kimmel's comments were deemed "ill-timed and thus insensitive."

Despite the announcement of Kimmel's return, Sinclair Broadcast Group, which operates 38 ABC stations, has decided to replace his show with news programming. Sinclair's Vice Chairman, Jason Smith, described Kimmel's comments as "inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country." The company has called for Kimmel to apologise to Kirk's family and make a donation to support them.

Kimmel's comments included criticism of the far-right's response to Kirk's death, suggesting they were attempting to shift blame onto the political left. He remarked, "We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them."

The controversy surrounding Kimmel's suspension has ignited a broader debate about free speech. Many celebrities and public figures have voiced their support for Kimmel, with former President Barack Obama warning against government coercion in media. Protests have also occurred outside Kimmel's studio, with calls for boycotts of Disney products.

As Kimmel prepares to return to the airwaves, it remains uncertain whether Nexstar Media Group, which also operates ABC-affiliated stations, will air the show. The company has previously expressed strong objections to Kimmel's comments and indicated it would replace the show with alternative programming.

Kimmel's return is scheduled for 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC, amid ongoing discussions about the implications of his comments and the response from various media outlets.