Jimmy Kimmel‘s Return to TV Nets Decade-High Ratings Amid controversy
LOS ANGELES – Jimmy Kimmel Live! achieved its highest viewership in ten years on tuesday, drawing 6.26 million viewers despite being absent from roughly a quarter of ABC stations nationwide, Disney reported. The surge in ratings followed a near weeklong suspension of the show stemming from comments Kimmel made regarding the man accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Tuesday’s audience represented approximately triple the show’s average viewership. An additional 26 million people watched Kimmel’s 28-minute emotional monologue on social media platforms, according to disney. Initial data from nielsen indicates these figures are likely to increase as more complete viewership data becomes available, excluding streaming numbers.
For comparison, Jimmy Kimmel Live! averaged 1.42 million viewers throughout the 2024-2025 season.
The suspension began last week after Kimmel criticized attempts to downplay the alleged shooter’s political affiliations.In his original monologue, Kimmel stated that then-President Donald Trump and his allies were “desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them” and attempting to “score political points from it.” He also likened Trump’s reaction to the death to “how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
The decision to pull Kimmel’s show came hours after Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), threatened action against ABC and Disney over the remarks. The controversy sparked a national debate regarding free speech.
During his return, a visibly emotional Kimmel clarified, “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.” He also accused Carr of employing “mob tactics.” Kimmel further criticized Trump for calling for the dismissal of late-night hosts who frequently critique him.
“Our leader celebrates people losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke,” Kimmel said,adding that Trump openly wishing for job losses was “un-American” and “perilous.”
While Kimmel’s return garnered praise from some, including actor Ben Stiller who called the monologue “brilliant,” it faced criticism from others.Trump wrote on social media, “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy kimmel his job back.” Andrew Kolvet, a spokesman for Turning Point USA and Kirk’s former producer, stated on X that Kimmel’s response was insufficient and that a full apology for suggesting the suspect was a MAGA supporter was needed.
