US late-night host Jimmy Kimmel will return to air this week after Disney suspended his long-running ABC program, Jimmy Kimmel Live, following backlash over remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The show, off screens since 17 September, will resume Tuesday US time, Disney confirmed in a statement.

“We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday,” the company said.

Kimmel’s suspension came after his monologue last week where he accused Republicans of exploiting Kirk’s death for political gain.

He mocked Donald Trump’s response to the tragedy and said the “MAGA gang” was trying to distance itself from the suspected killer.

The remarks drew criticism from conservatives, including Trump and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr (pictured below).

Carr suggested ABC affiliates could face licence scrutiny, prompting major station owners Nexstar and Sinclair to pre-empt the show. Disney executives moved to suspend production, citing concern about inflaming tensions.

The decision, however, sparked uproar across Hollywood. More than 430 prominent actors, writers and directors, including Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro and Jennifer Aniston, signed an open letter organised by the American Civil Liberties Union, calling the suspension “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”

Comedians and unions also criticised Disney, warning the move set a dangerous precedent for government influence over entertainment.

Kimmel personally negotiated his return with Disney CEO Bob Iger and television co-chair Dana Walden. He is expected to address the controversy when he returns on air.

The veteran host, who has presented Jimmy Kimmel Live since 2003, has often clashed with Trump and other conservative figures. His contract with Disney runs until May 2026 and he has signalled it may be his last.

The incident comes as the US late-night landscape shifts.

CBS recently cancelled Stephen Colbert’s show, while political pressure on networks is heating up ahead of next year’s presidential election.