Disney Reinstates Jimmy Kimmel Live! Following Free Speech Backlash

Disney has confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to air today, Tuesday, Sept. 23, less than a week after the late-night show was suspended over Kimmel’s controversial comments about the death of Charlie Kirk. The Walt Disney Company said the pause was intended to avoid “further inflaming a tense situation” but noted that after conversations with Kimmel, production will resume. The suspension drew sharp reactions across the political spectrum, with critics—including former President Trump—cheering the move, while free speech advocates and fellow late-night hosts denounced it as government intimidation. The show’s return comes amid continued debate over media freedom, accountability, and the future of late-night television.