Jimmy Kimmel's return to his late-night show, following a brief suspension sparked by a controversy surrounding his comments on the death of Charlie Kirk, has shattered his own YouTube viewership record. His nearly 30-minute monologue, exceeding 15 million views within 16 hours of its release, became the most-watched monologue in the history of his YouTube channel. This surpasses previous records set by emotional monologues addressing his son's heart surgery, Will Smith's Oscars slap, the Las Vegas shooting, and even his commentary on Trump's re-election.
The controversy stemmed from pressure exerted by the Trump administration on Disney, the owner of ABC, leading to the temporary suspension of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'. This decision ignited a national debate about free speech and the perceived heavy-handed tactics of the Trump administration. The swift public backlash, including Hollywood protests, consumer boycotts, and even criticism from Republicans like Ted Cruz, ultimately forced Disney to reverse course.
However, the show remains preempted on stations owned by Sinclair and Nexstar, who are currently undergoing an FCC merger approval process. While 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' typically averages 1.6 million viewers, experts anticipate significantly higher numbers for Tuesday's show, despite the loss of approximately 20% of its broadcast audience due to the preemptions. Donald Trump himself weighed in on the situation, criticizing ABC for reinstating Kimmel and questioning the host's talent and audience size.
In his comeback monologue, Kimmel neither apologized excessively nor engaged in inflammatory rhetoric. He framed his suspension as an attack on free speech, clarifying his stance on the Kirk situation and emphasizing that his intent was not to trivialize the murder or blame any specific group. He also praised Kirk's widow for her forgiveness. Kimmel highlighted the importance of preserving free speech, drawing parallels to comedic icons like Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, and Howard Stern. The show will continue to air, excluding those stations affected by the preemptions, emphasizing the ongoing tensions and the larger conversation about free speech in the media.
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Originally published at: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/sep/24/jimmy-kimmel-live-monologue
