Kimmel Reinstated Amid Preemptions, FCC Scrutiny

Jimmy Kimmel returned to ABC's late‑night stage a week after an indefinite suspension over remarks about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, delivering an emotional, near‑teary monologue saying he never intended to make light of the killing and clarifying he did not mean to blame any specific group, though he did not offer a full apology. Disney reinstated Kimmel after widespread backlash, but several station groups, notably Sinclair and Nexstar, continued to preempt the broadcast. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr signaled potential regulatory scrutiny, turning the episode into a flashpoint over free speech and corporate decision‑making. Colleagues and many public figures defended Kimmel’s right to speak, while critics including Piers Morgan, Megyn Kelly and Turning Point USA said his explanation was insufficient and demanded a clearer apology. The controversy coincided with late‑night attention to President Trump’s baseless claim linking Tylenol to autism, which comedians such as Stephen Colbert mocked, underscoring tensions among satire, politics and misinformation.