Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned to airwaves Tuesday night with a massive surge in viewership, following a six-day suspension triggered by backlash over the host’s comments on the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The Tuesday, Sept. 23 episode marked Kimmel’s first since Disney pulled the show from ABC on Sept. 17 after intense pressure from Trump-appointed FCC chairman Brendan Carr. Despite the controversy — or perhaps because of it — the episode averaged 6.26 million traditional broadcast viewers, according to preliminary Nielsen data as reported by The New York Times. That’s more than triple the show’s usual audience of about 1.6 million.
Even more staggering was the response online. A video of Kimmel’s comeback monologue posted to YouTube racked up over 15.9 million views within 24 hours. Combined with views across social media platforms, the segment has reached more than 26 million.
The episode, which included nearly 30 minutes of commentary, addressed Kimmel’s suspension, clarified his previous remarks on Kirk’s death, and featured a forceful defense of free speech. Kimmel criticized the FCC and the Trump administration, saying they were “desperately trying to control the narrative.”
“We hit some new lows over the weekend,” Kimmel said, referring to political reactions to the killing. “The MAGA gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
He added, “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving. On Friday, the White House flew the flags at half staff, which got some criticism, but on a human level, you can see how hard the president is taking this.”
Kimmel went on to mock Trump’s reaction to the tragedy, airing a clip in which the former president shifted from discussing Kirk’s death to a ballroom under construction. “Yes, he’s at the fourth stage of grief, construction,” Kimmel quipped. “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
While Kimmel had previously expressed condolences on social media, calling for unity and an end to gun violence, his televised remarks drew swift condemnation from conservative media groups. Sinclair and Nexstar, two of the largest ABC affiliate station owners, refused to air Tuesday’s episode.
Nexstar, which is seeking FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna, was praised by Carr for “doing the right thing.” Sinclair received similar thanks for what Carr described as “quick action” in response to the controversy.
Trump, for his part, claimed credit for Kimmel’s suspension, writing on Truth Social that the host was “fired for lack of talent.”
Ahead of the show’s return, more than 400 celebrities — including Tom Hanks and Jennifer Aniston — signed an open letter organized by the ACLU in support of Kimmel and freedom of speech. Disney confirmed Kimmel’s return on Monday, Sept. 22, one day before the show aired.
So far, Jimmy Kimmel’s latest episode has become his most-viewed monologue ever — a pointed reminder that controversy can often drive public attention, even as it raises questions about media freedom and political influence.