Jimmy Kimmel Recalls the Moments Leading to the Suspension of His Show

Jimmy Kimmel shared how he learned his late-night program, “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” was abruptly taken off-air. The suspension followed a monologue in which he discussed the death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10.

On the “Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” Kimmel described the experience as an emotional ordeal. He recounted receiving a call from ABC around 3 a.m., just before his show’s taping at 4:30 p.m., while he was working in his office. The network expressed concern about his upcoming remarks and decided to pull the show temporarily.

As the announcement was made, the audience reacted with loud boos, prompting Kimmel to joke, “That’s what I said. I started booing.” Despite his opposition to the suspension and his belief that it was not a good idea, the decision was final, and the show was halted.

Kimmel returned to his office and informed his producers that the show was temporarily suspended. He described the aftermath as feeling like “jail,” with restrictions on communication and numerous phone calls to handle the situation.

On his way home, Kimmel described being chased by a posse of paparazzi, with police cars, helicopters, and the media swarming around him. When he arrived home, his family was already awake, sharing humorous and heartfelt moments amidst the chaos.

He noted that the first few days after the incident were akin to “jail,” as he had to remain silent publicly while managing the crisis through private communications.

Eventually, Walt Disney Company announced that Kimmel’s show would be reinstated. Days later, it resumed broadcasting, signaling a return to normalcy after the controversy and the intense period of public and private scrutiny.