Jimmy Kimmel Talks About How ABC Suspension Felt Like ‘Jail’

While Jimmy Kimmel admitted he was shocked by ABC’s decision to suspend him, he has revealed that the following days were the most difficult.

On September 17, after Kimmel’s remarks about Charlie Kirk‘s death sparked backlash online, ABC pulled the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” show from its lineup.

However, five days later, the network announced Kimmel’s return, despite objections from President Donald Trump. For the first time since the brief suspension, Kimmel got candid about how the experience affected him.

He told Colbert of being trailed by paparazzi on his way home and returning to a household filled with mixed emotions.

“We get to the house, and we’re shaken. The kids are up — our daughter is 11 years old and says, ‘I can sell my Labubus,’” Kimmel joked. “It was very sweet. Our son just got naked and started running around the house.”

He continued explaining that the days after which he remained silent without any media interaction were like “a DUI in LA. He added, “It was like three days in jail where I couldn’t say anything. I just had to sit quietly and make a lot of phone calls, and take a lot of phone calls.”

The host went on to detail how he was first notified about the break, a moment he described as an “emotional roller coaster.”

He told Colbert that just before showtime, he received an unusual call from the company while working in his office, and went to the bathroom to take it. 

Kimmel recalled the network telling him, “We want to take the temperature down. We’re concerned about what you’re gonna say tonight, and we decided that the best route is to take the show off the air tonight.”

When the audience booed, Kimmel joked that was his own first reaction. He admitted he argued against the decision, but when it went to a vote, he lost.

Kimmel said his wife noticed how pale he looked after the meeting, joking he was “whiter than Jim Gaffigan.” He confessed that he thought his career was over and that he would never return to television.

Kimmel’s interview with Colbert comes a week after his return on screen, which was emotional and at the same time filled with criticism for Trump’s administration. 

As The Blast reported, the late-night host revisited his controversial remarks, clarifying that his words had been misinterpreted and emphasizing he never intended to mock the activist’s death.

He then shifted focus to Trump, accusing the world leader of trying to silence him and other comedians, which was unconstitutional. “A government threat to silence a comedian the government doesn’t like is anti-American,” Kimmel told the audience.

The 57-year-old presenter also criticized FCC chairman Brendan Carr, labeling his threats toward other late-night personalities as unlawful and lacking intelligence.

Kimmel’s return on-air happened despite not meeting the initial conditions set by ABC affiliates Sinclair and Nexstar, which had demanded an apology to Charlie Kirk’s family and a donation to Turning Point USA.

According to The Blast, a statement released by Sinclair detailed their reasons for bringing back the show, attributing it to the feedback from viewers and advertisers.

It also noted that concerns over violence, including a recent shooting at an ABC affiliate in Sacramento, influenced the reversal.

Sinclair further urged TV hosts and showrunners to practice responsible broadcasting and respectful dialogue, even when addressing opposing viewpoints.

Following ABC’s decision to reinstate Kimmel’s show, President Donald Trump voiced his anger on Truth Social, targeting both the network and the late-night host.

As The Blast reported, Trump accused Kimmel of lacking talent and questioned ABC’s reasoning for bringing him back, arguing that the comedian failed to improve ratings or benefit the company.

He concluded his post by hinting at potential legal action against the network, boasting that a previous lawsuit against ABC had resulted in a $16 million settlement. “This one sounds even more lucrative,” Trump wrote.