Jimmy Kimmel made a highly anticipated return to his late-night show, receiving a standing ovation from the audience. Kimmel had been suspended for a week following controversial remarks about the shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. As he took the stage, the crowd erupted in chants of "Jimmy! Jimmy!".

In his opening remarks, Kimmel humorously compared his recent experiences to those of the CEO of Tylenol, saying, "I'm not sure who had a weirder 48 hours, me or the CEO of Tylenol." He expressed gratitude to his supporters, stating, "Thanks to those who supported this show, who cared enough to do something about it, to make your voices heard so that mine could be heard. I will never forget."

Kimmel also acknowledged those who may not agree with him but support his right to express his views. His suspension followed comments suggesting that the alleged shooter of Kirk might have been a supporter of former President Donald Trump, which sparked backlash from conservative circles.

During the show, Kimmel became emotional as he addressed the situation. "It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man," he said, visibly tearing up. "I don’t think there’s anything funny about it. 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 reflected on how his comments may have been perceived as "ill-timed" and acknowledged that if the roles were reversed, he might have felt similarly. Despite his return, Kimmel's show was not aired by ABC affiliates Sinclair and Nexstar, which together reach about a quarter of U.S. households. Discussions regarding the show's future on these networks are ongoing.

Kimmel's sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez, shared a message on social media before the show, saying, "We are back full of love." Fellow late-night host Stephen Colbert was among the first to congratulate Kimmel, humorously noting, "Now that Jimmy's not being cancelled, I get to enjoy this again."

Kimmel's suspension had drawn significant attention, with hundreds of celebrities signing an open letter in support of him, emphasizing the importance of free speech. The letter included notable names such as Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro, who expressed solidarity against government threats to freedom of expression.

As Kimmel resumed his show, he took the opportunity to address the broader implications of his suspension, criticizing the political climate and the pressures faced by media outlets. He remarked, "Our president celebrates people losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke." Kimmel's return marks a significant moment in the ongoing conversation about free speech and the role of media in political discourse.