NEW YORK (AP) — Jimmy Kimmel returned to late-night television with a poignant monologue following his brief suspension over comments surrounding the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel expressed no apologies and shared emotional reflections, emphasizing his respect for Kirk’s widow, Erika, who forgave her husband’s killer publicly.
Approximately 8 million viewers tuned in for Kimmel's first show back, significantly more than his typical nightly audience of around 1.8 million. During the monologue, Kimmel humorously noted that former President Donald Trump inadvertently boosted his ratings by trying to cancel him, joking, He might have to release the Epstein files to distract us from this now.
While acknowledging the gravity of Kirk's murder, Kimmel stated, It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it. He praised Erika Kirk for her grace amidst tragedy, highlighting her actions as an example to be followed.
Despite his emotional delivery, reactions to Kimmel's remarks varied. Andrew Kolvet from Turning Point USA criticized Kimmel's response as insufficient, while actor Ben Stiller praised it as brilliant. This incident sparked extensive discourse about free speech and the responsibilities of comedians and public figures.
As Kimmel's show concluded, he received a standing ovation from the audience, signifying strong public support during these tumultuous times.
