Jimmy Kimmel returns after suspension for Charlie Kirk comments

(Yahoo Entertainment) -snip- Kimmel addressed the backlash to his remarks at the top of his opening monologue. "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,” Kimmel said, his voice breaking with emotion. “I understand that to some, that felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both — and for those who think I did point a finger, I get why you’re upset. If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I’d have felt the same way."

After thanking his fellow late-night hosts for rallying around him, Kimmel said he felt even more grateful for "the people who don’t support my show and what I believe but support my right to share those beliefs anyway.”

"People I never would have imagined, like Ben Shapiro, Clay Travis, Candace Owens, Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul — even my old pal Ted Cruz," Kimmel said. “It takes courage for them to speak out against this administration. They did and they deserve credit for it.”

Ultimately, Kimmel continued, "this show is not important. What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/article/jimmy-kimmel-returns-after-suspension-for-charlie-kirk-comments-our-government-cannot-be-allowed-to-control-what-we-do-and-do-not-say-on-television-195436293.html