Featured Image Credit: Robin L Marshall / Contributor / Getty
Jimmy Kimmel's previously indefinite suspension is now over just under a week after it landed on his late night desk, yet his miraculous comeback could be over as quick as it has started thanks to the derailing efforts of one key ABC affiliate.
There has been significant pushback from the political right towards any criticism or perceived negative discussion surrounding the death of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk earlier this month.
Vice President JD Vance urged people to contact the employers of anyone 'celebrating' Kirk's death, and Attorney General Pam Bondi even threatened legal action towards what she deemed to be 'hate speech'.
One person that saw this action first-hand was late night show host Jimmy Kimmel, who was placed on indefinite suspension last week by Disney-owned ABC following comments he made surrounding Charlie Kirk.
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Many came to his aid from fellow comedians to even former US president Barack Obama, and on Wednesday night ABC finally announced that it would be reverting the suspension and allowing Kimmel to return to TVs across the nation.
The Walt Disney Company explained that while the decision was made "because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive," it has reached an agreement with Kimmel after "thoughtful conversations," with the show set to return on Tuesday night.
While there's no doubt that millions of eyes across the country will be fixed on their TV screens awaiting Kimmel's return, many states might not have the opportunity to watch thanks to one key affiliate of the network.
Sinclair Inc. – who pay ABC to run Jimmy Kimmel Live! on its local stations – has revealed that it would continue to uphold the ban and will instead run local programming in place of the late night show.
"Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming," explained the broadcasting group. "Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show's potential return."
Key to the motivation behind this decision is the apparent failure of Kimmel to meet Sinclair's 'three conditions' of return, which include 'formal discussions' with ABC surrounding 'professionalism and accountability', alongside a direct apology to the Kirk family and a 'meaningful personal donation' to both Kirk's family and Turning Point USA.
"Sinclair intends not to return Jimmy Kimmel Live! to our air until we are confident that the appropriate steps have been taken to uphold the standards expected of a national broadcast platform," Sinclair outlined, and it appears to now be a waiting game to see who blinks first in this war of attrition.
