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Jimmy Kimmel Live! is set to return to ABC on Tuesday night after a week of suspension sparked by controversy over the late-night host’s remarks regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. ABC parent company, The Walt Disney Company, confirmed the show’s return in a statement on Monday.

“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 statement read. “It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”

The suspension followed backlash over Kimmel’s monologue on September 15, when he commented over Kirk’s suspected murder. Kimmel 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 and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”

Two days later, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Brendan Carr publicly suggested, on The Benny show , that Kimmel should be suspended and referenced the FCC’s authority over local stations. While Carr’s comments have no direct legal force, the implication of regulatory scrutiny had immediate reaction from democrat and republican leaders.

That same day, Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group — two major owners of ABC affiliate stations — announced they would preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Shortly afterward, Disney made the decision to suspend the show , drawing criticism from media advocates and political commentators.

Kimmel is expected to return and host the late night show this Tuesday. According to CNN , the host intends to address the controversy and stand by his original remarks.

The decision to reinstate the show has been described as a reversal under pressure, following organized protests and a public letter organized by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), signed by over 400 artists — among them Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and Jennifer Aniston — urging Disney to defend free speech.

Despite Disney’s decision to reinstate Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced it will continue to preempt the show on its ABC-affiliated stations “beginning Tuesday night,” opting to air news programming in the time slot instead.

“Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return,” a Sinclair spokesperson told CNN .

Sinclair, a conservative-leaning broadcast company that owns numerous ABC affiliates across the U.S., has taken a firm position. As reported by DEADLINE , Sinclair stated it would not lift the suspension unless Kimmel apologizes, meets with Sinclair representatives, and makes a donation to Turning Point USA, the organization founded by Charlie Kirk.

Nexstar, which also pulled Kimmel’s show last week, has not confirmed whether it will resume broadcasts of the program.

The suspension and subsequent reinstatement of Jimmy Kimmel Live! has fueled renewed concerns over the influence of government officials on media content and the willingness of corporations to respond to political pressure.

PEN America, welcomed Kimmel’s return. “Kimmel’s return is a vindication for free speech,” said Summer Lopez, interim co-CEO of PEN America. The ABC announcement is “remedying his unjustifiable suspension, and reminding us that when people speak out to hold the powerful to account – it matters.”