In his comeback, Jimmy Kimmel struck a tone of sorrow for his controversial comments about Charlie Kirk - without saying sorry - and made it clear he would refuse to be cowed by his critics, chiefly Donald Trump.
Referencing last week's remarks that led to his brief suspension by Disney, the late-night talk show host stopped short of an apology. Kimmel stated that he accepted some felt his remarks about Kirk's death had been 'ill-timed or unclear or maybe both', and acknowledged, 'I get why you're upset.'
Last week, Kimmel had made a clumsy connection between Kirk's suspected shooter and the 'Maga gang'. He joked that Trump's reaction was akin to 'how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish'. In his show, Kimmel choked up as he reiterated that it was 'never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man'.
Kimmel stressed that he meant it when he posted a message sending love to Kirk's family. Yet, he emphasized that the recent furore would not dissuade him from criticizing Trump. In fact, the backlash seemed to have strengthened his resolve.
Speaking directly to his audience, Kimmel remarked, 'This show is not important. What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this,' highlighting the essential nature of free speech.
After playing a clip of Trump mocking his low ratings, Kimmel noted the controversy had inadvertently boosted attention on his show. He quipped, 'He tried his best to cancel me. Instead, he forced millions to watch the show.'
Trump had warned that Kimmel's network, Disney, faced jeopardy from his inflammatory remarks. The former president stated, 'I think we're going to test ABC out on this'.
Kimmel's refusal to back down and willingness to confront these challenges has garnered support from fellow late-night hosts who have also been targeted by Trump. As Kimmel said, 'We have to speak out against it. He's not stopping.'
In the end, Kimmel not only took aim at Trump but also expressed his displeasure with Disney's initial suspension decision, indicating that despite differing opinions, he is grateful to be back on air.
This latest episode in Kimmel's ongoing battle with political criticisms marks a pivotal moment in the late-night landscape, and signals an ongoing discourse about media freedom and accountability in the current political climate.
