By Sandy Fitzgerald | Thursday, 09 October 2025 08:08 AM EDT
Jimmy Kimmel has accused critics of “intentionally and maliciously mischaracterizing” his remarks about the accused killer of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, following the temporary suspension of his ABC show. During a Wednesday interview at the Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles, Kimmel dismissed initial backlash as “distortion by right-wing media networks,” claiming he aimed to “correct the record.”
The controversy began after Kimmel’s Sept. 17 monologue, where he alleged that President Donald Trump’s supporters sought to portray Kirk’s accused killer “as anything other than one of them,” accusing conservatives of exploiting the tragedy for political gain. The comments drew sharp criticism from viewers and conservative groups, who labeled his remarks as politicizing a sensitive issue.
ABC parent company Walt Disney temporarily suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr criticized the host for misleading viewers about the accused shooter’s political affiliations. Carr urged local stations to challenge such claims and warned of potential license reviews if complaints were filed.
Kimmel claimed he did not expect his show to return, stating, “A list of demands was presented to me, and I was not going to go along with any of them.” He later spoke with Disney Entertainment Co-Chair Dana Walden, acknowledging his tendency to act impulsively. After a six-day hiatus, Disney reinstated the program with partial approval of Kimmel’s remarks.
During his return, Kimmel reiterated that he never intended to mock Kirk’s murder but defended political satire and criticized “bullying” from Trump and his administration.
Sandy Fitzgerald has covered news, media, and politics for Newsmax for over three decades.
