Jimmy Kimmel needs to make ‘sincere apology to save his career’ during ABC return

Jimmy Kimmel Live! is back on TV screens across the US today, following the suspension of the late-night talk show after the host’s comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk

Jimmy Kimmel must make a “sincere apology” during his programme today to save his career, a broadcasting expert has claimed.

His late-night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, returns on most ABC affiliates after a short suspension following his comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The veteran broadcaster is expected to open today’s show with one of the most-watched monologues on late-night TV of all time, but critics have stressed this should include a genuine apology for the controversy.

A source with broadcasting expertise said: “I think a lot of it depends on what he says tonight, how he handles it, if he handles it with grace. Maybe it’s over tomorrow. If the audience will embrace him and he can come back, he needs to apologise. He needs to be sincere about it.”

Jimmy, 57, had said the “Maga gang are desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them”. Mr Kirk, who was a prominent political commentator in the US and ally of the president, was shot dead at a Utah Valley University event last week.

READ MORE: What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Charlie Kirk as chat show returns after axeREAD MORE: Jimmy Kimmel Live: TV star’s show returns after ABC axe for Charlie Kirk comments

ABC’s parent company, Disney, had announced it had pulled the show to “avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotionally charged moment for the country.” Sinclair and Nexstar, which account for a third of ABC’s affiliates, have said they will not be airing the show on their stations.

The broadcast insider believes conservative viewers are unhappy ABC has reached a decision for Jimmy to resume his programme following “thoughtful conversations” with the presenter. There is said to be some concern around Jimmy’s monologue, as no one “has a clue” what the broadcaster will say during the opening of today’s programme.

“We have no clue [what he’s going to say]. They won’t tell us. And as affiliates (Sinclair and Nexstar), we can’t just go on their word. The team said ‘It’s just too risky for us. We need to see what he says,'” the source told the Daily Mail.

And it is this monologue which could determine how long Jimmy Kimmel Live! remains off air with the other affiliates Sinclair and Nexstar, the expert said. They added TV executives will be watching the speech – the first time Jimmy will have spoken about the axe since it happened – carefully in order to decide whether conservative viewers are ready for the show’s full return.

The source continued: “The one thing that no one tends to understand is that we’re local businesses.” They also alluded to the huge viewing figures for Mr Kirk’s funeral on Sunday, particularly in conservative areas, such as Salt Lake City.

Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with the murder of Mr Kirk and could face the death penalty if convicted.