The (week)long national nightmare was over Tuesday night, as Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned to the airwaves with its host offering a tearful not-quite-an-apology.
Tuesday night's episode marked the culmination of a tumultuous week for the network after Kimmel was briefly suspended by Disney for his false statements about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. As reported by the New York Post, Kimmel sought to clarify his comments in his first monologue back on the air:
'You understand that it was never my intention to make light of a murder of a young man. I don't think there's anything funny about it,' he said in his opening remarks that were interrupted several times by standing ovations from the audience.
'I understand that to some, that felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both, and for those who think I did point a finger, I get why you're upset,' he added, referencing ABC parent Disney's explanation for the show's suspension.
While Kimmel didn't directly apologize for his Kirk comments, he noted: 'I don't think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone. This is a sick person who believes violence is a solution, and it isn't.'
For reference, here was Kimmel's previous statement that resulted in his show being pulled off the air:
'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 doing everything they can to score political points from it.'
Kimmel also went on to use Erika Kirk's emotional speech in which she granted her husband's assassin forgiveness as an example of what everyone should do.
'She forgave him. That is an example we should follow,' Kimmel said. 'If you believe in the teachings of Jesus, as I do, there it was. That's it. A selfless act of grace.'
'Forgiveness from a grieving widow. It touched me deeply. If there's anything we should take from this tragedy to carry forward, I hope it can be that.'
Ah, yes, if there's anyone who clearly "believes in the teachings of Jesus," it's Jimmy Kimmel.
The host's suspension last week set off a firestorm, causing the right to cheer while the left decried it as suppression of free speech.
Though ABC lifted Kimmel's suspension, many ABC affiliates across the country — those owned by Sinclair Broadcasting and Nexstar Media Group — still refused to air the show for the foreseeable future.
President Trump also weighed in on Kimmel's return to the airwaves in a post to Truth Social:
So, just to recap:
Jimmy Kimmel last week: "The guy who murdered Charlie Kirk was MAGA."
Jimmy Kimmel this week: "I don't think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone."
Sure thing, Jimmy.
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