Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned to late-night television today after a nearly week-long suspension which divided opinion and triggered a discussion about freedom of speech
Donald Trump has blasted ABC for allowing Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night television.
The US President slammed the network for bringing “someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE” moments before Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned after its suspension.
In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump said: “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there.” The post furthered that Kimmel serves as “another arm of the DNC” which would be “a major illegal Campaign Contribution.”
“I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings,” the President concluded.
READ MORE: Jimmy Kimmel needs to make ‘sincere apology to save his career’ during ABC returnREAD MORE: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Late-night show returns despite Donald Trump’s scathing rant
ABC teased Jimmy’s monologue with a soundbite just 45 minutes ahead of the episode’s airtime. The broadcaster, who was welcomed with a standing ovation during taping according to audience members, said he was “happy to be here tonight” in the tease.
“If you’re just joining us, we are preemting your regularly scheduled encore episode of ‘Celebrity Family Feud’ to bring you this special report,” Jimmy, a father of four, said in the soundbite.
As the audience began to disperse from the taping, members revealed Jimmy’s episode felt “unifying” but said the star didn’t apologise for his controversial comments on Charlie Kirk. One audience member claimed Kimmel was “standing up for freedom of speech.”
READ MORE: Jimmy Kimmel breaks silence ahead of ABC return after Charlie Kirk comments
Walter Bates, who was in the audience, said Jimmy “made sure that everybody knew that he was not … making fun of the tragedy of Charlie Kirk’s murder.” Mr Bates said he wouldn’t call it an apology, “but that message was very, very clear.”
Mr Bates said the presenter also praised Mr Kirk’s wife for showing Christian values in forgiving her husband’s killer. “It was a very moving moment. I got very emotional and so did my wife,” Mr Bates said.
But Jimmy’s viewership was more limited than usual. Two companies that owned ABC affiliates said they would not put Kimmel’s show on, leaving audiences in such cities as St Louis, Nashville, Tennessee, and Richmond, Virginia to watch something else. The Sinclair and Nexstar corporations collectively control about a quarter of ABC affiliates.