Jimmy Kimmel recently returned to late-night TV following a pause in his show, which was taken off the air after his comments surrounding the death of Charlie Kirk. Upon his return, Kimmel took a moment to address the tragedy, showing visible emotion as he spoke about Charlie and his widow, Erika Kirk.

Charlie Kirk’s untimely death was something many, including Kimmel, spoke passionately about. While the incident was described as a tragedy, some of Kimmel’s statements upset many, including former President Donald Trump.

During his emotional talk, Kimmel expressed disappointment at attempts to spin the narrative of Kirk’s death for political gain. He remarked, “This young man’s murder led to low attempts by some to twist the narrative for their motives.” Striking a collected yet firm tone, he also voiced criticism over the decision to lower flags in Kirk’s honor and humorously derided Trump’s reaction to the incident: “This isn’t the way to mourn a friend; it’s like a child grieving a lost pet.”

In the wake of Kimmel’s comments, Nexstar Media Group, along with ABC-affiliated TV stations, decided to suspend the talk show. Trump’s response was to label Kimmel a “loser,” sparking debates over free speech and the bounds of what could be publicly expressed.

The Return of Jimmy Kimmel’s Late Night Show

Numerous public figures, including Barack Obama, criticized the suspension decision. Consequently, Kimmel returned to late-night television with many anticipating his address on the previous comments. Upon his reappearance on the show, Kimmel did not hold back, directing a bold message at Donald Trump.

“He attempted to cancel me,” Kimmel jested, continuing, “Instead, he ended up boosting the show’s viewers; that plan didn’t pan out as expected.” He cheekily hinted at Trump’s potential future diversions by quipping about another scandal to distract viewers.

Staying true to his straightforward style, Kimmel confronted Trump’s threat against ABC for reinstating him, stating, “Trump expressed he wants me and my team fired—it’s alarming that our leader celebrates job losses when he can’t handle criticism.” He reflected on lessons from iconic comedians, emphasizing that government threats to comedians were “anti-American.”

While Kimmel maintained elements of his comedic flair, he also addressed criticisms regarding past insensitivities about Kirk’s death, showing genuine emotion when mentioning Erika Kirk.

Emotional Words for Erika Kirk

“I never meant to make light of the tragedy of a young man’s death,” Kimmel expressed genuinely, “I shared a heartfelt message on Instagram right after the incident, extending love and compassion to his family, and I absolutely meant what I said.” Acknowledging that his previous comments may have seemed inappropriate or unclear, he took responsibility for the misunderstandings.

Kimmel’s message culminated in an acknowledgment of Erika Kirk’s remarkable choice to forgive her husband’s killer. With a choked voice, Kimmel stated, “Her forgiveness shows extraordinary grace—a lesson on how to handle tragedy we can all learn from.” He shared how Erika’s courage in forgiving deeply moved him and hoped others could find inspiration in her actions.

What do you think of Kimmel’s heartfelt message to Erika Kirk? Feel free to share your thoughts through social media comments.