Jimmy Kimmel returned to social media for the first time since his late-night show was abruptly pulled from ABC’s lineup.
The 56-year-old host took to Instagram on Tuesday to post a tribute that many fans saw as a subtle statement on the controversy surrounding his program.
‘Missing this guy today,’ Kimmel wrote alongside a photo of himself with legendary TV producer Norman Lear, who passed away in December 2023.Â
Lear, best known for creating groundbreaking sitcoms like All in the Family and The Jeffersons, was a staunch defender of free speech and the First Amendment.
The post marked Kimmel’s first public comment since ABC announced last week that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be ‘pre-empted indefinitely’ in the wake of his controversial remarks about the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
According to Variety, ABC’s decision came after Nexstar Media, which operates dozens of affiliate stations across the country, threatened to drop Kimmel’s show from its programming lineup.
Jimmy Kimmel returned to social media for the first time since his late-night show was abruptly pulled from ABC’s lineup
The dispute quickly became a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over free speech, political satire, and the limits of late-night comedy.
While Kimmel has yet to directly address his comments about Kirk, fans believe his nod to Lear, a figure celebrated for pushing boundaries in television and never shying away from political or cultural controversy, speaks volumes.
Disney announced on Monday that it was reversing the ‘indefinite’ hiatus ordered Monday amid backlash to Kimmel’s suspension.
During his September 15 monologue, Kimmel said: ‘We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it.’
He was reprimanded Wednesday by Carr, who told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson that he was considering an investigation into Kimmel and ABC over the comments.
Executives at Sinclair and Nexstar responded by telling told ABC and Disney they would not be airing Kimmel’s show until the comments were addressed.
‘Missing this guy today,’ Kimmel wrote alongside a photo of himself with legendary TV producer Norman Lear, who passed away in December 2023 (seen in 2022)
Lear, best known for creating groundbreaking sitcoms like All in the Family and The Jeffersons, was a staunch defender of free speech and the First Amendment
A spokesman for Kirk’s media company, Turning Point USA, has called on both broadcasters to not ‘cave.’
Additionally, Sinclair called on Kimmel to issue a direct apology to the Kirk family and also make ‘a meaningful personal donation to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA.’
Carr, during his conversation with Johnson, called an apology ‘a very reasonable, minimal step that can be taken’.
It remains unclear whether Kimmel will issue an apology during his show Tuesday.
