Six days after his on-air comments regarding the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk caused Walt Disney (DIS.N) to stop his show, Jimmy Kimmel made a comeback to U.S. late-night television on Tuesday, defending political humor against the “bullying” of the Trump administration.

Jimmy Kimmel defends his comment on Charlie Kirk

In response to Trump’s increasing use of legal action and regulatory threats against alleged media foes, Disney’s decision to end Kimmel’s exile for remarks it first deemed “ill-timed” and “insensitive” was a high-profile example of corporate defiance.

Jimmy Kimmel has come under fire for crying “crocodile tears” during his long, self-serving monologue on Tuesday night. The late-night host just once mentioned Charlie Kirk’s name, failing to offer an apology for the comments that led to his termination from the show.

“No apologies. He wasn’t kidding around. Because he detested the victim’s views, he flatly lied about the murderer. Conservative Dana Loesch wrote, “Jimmy Kimmel can pound sand.”

Fails to apologize

The criticism followed Kimmel’s decision to use only a small portion of his almost 20-minute monologue to elucidate his earlier assertion that Tyler Robinson, Kirk’s alleged killer, was probably connected to the MAGA movement.

Nevertheless, Kimmel responded to the commotion his previous commentary had caused by alternating between his typical brand of sarcastic wit and a more solemn, compassionate tone on his first night back on the air in over a week.

Jimmy Kimmel Suspemsion

Making fun of a young man’s murder was never my goal. Shortly after receiving a standing ovation, the host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” informed viewers, his voice cracking with emotion, “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.”

“Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual – that was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make,” Kimmel, 57, said.

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