Kelly Ripa And Mark Consuelos Defend Jimmy Kimmel On-air

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos rarely wade into political waters, preferring to keep their daytime banter light and free of controversy.

However, following Jimmy Kimmel‘s emotional return to late-night television after his suspension from ABC, the couple broke tradition.

Their candid remarks about free speech, media pressures, and Kimmel’s heartfelt monologue surprised fans who aren’t used to seeing them address political drama so directly.

After a week of speculation and national headlines, Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned to the airwaves on Tuesday, September 23.

The comedian’s absence followed a temporary suspension by ABC after his controversial remarks about the fatal shooting of right-wing figure Charlie Kirk.

When the late-night host reappeared, he delivered a tearful and impassioned opening monologue that touched on politics, censorship, and resilience.

Kimmel spoke directly to his audience, thanking those who “supported our show, cared enough to do something about it, to make your voices heard so that mine will be heard. I will never forget it.”

He even acknowledged unexpected support from across party lines, specifically mentioning Ted Cruz and other conservatives who defended his “right to share” his views.

“I never imagined I’d be in a situation like this — I barely paid attention in school. But one thing I did learn from Lenny Bruce and George Carlin, and Howard Stern is a government threat to silence a comedian the president doesn’t like is anti-American,” Kimmel declared, earning loud applause from his studio audience.

On Wednesday, during their own broadcast of “Live with Kelly and Mark,” Ripa and Consuelos reacted to Kimmel’s return.

It was a rare moment of political commentary from the couple, who usually steer clear of divisive topics.

“Jimmy Kimmel returned to his show last night. And you know, listen — we know him personally and when I tell you he’s one of the kindest, most generous people that I know. Cares about his family, takes care of his crew, his staff, everybody. He really, really cares,” Consuelos said per PEOPLE Magazine.

Ripa chimed in to echo her husband’s words, adding that Kimmel “cares about people.” Both agreed that his handling of the situation was commendable, calling his televised remarks “very responsible.”

“And his statements last night, I think, were on point. He understands both sides, he was very humble in his speech,” Consuelos continued.

On their show, Consuelos took a moment to stress the importance of constitutional rights, telling viewers, “One thing we can all agree on as a country is that the First Amendment is very important. We do a light show here. We don’t talk about any politics here, we just don’t do it. We know that our fans at home want an escape from all of that, and we agree — we want an escape from all of that!”

“But I think it’s important, too, that we all are free,” he added. “Because you never know — we can say something crazy and tomorrow we’re gone.”

Ripa playfully interjected that she says “crazy things all the time here.” Yet both acknowledged the delicate balance of speaking openly while working in a corporate environment.

“It is not lost on them that they are sitting in the Disney building, our home here,” Consuelos observed. Still, he insisted, “It was the right thing to do, for the company, to bring him back.”

The couple reflected on the pressures of public discourse in today’s polarized climate.

“And I have to tell you, and we can all agree here, even though we are a light, frothy… we are non-controversial. We are non-controversial,” Ripa admitted. “We are like melted ice cream. But even we are constantly in a position where we are checking what we’re about to say in our heads because we’ve come to this inflection point where no matter what you say, somebody is upset.”

She went on to stress the importance of free expression: “And I think everybody needs to take a step back and really think. I have a right to speak, and you have a right to say horrible things about me on Instagram. That’s the pleasure about living in a free society. That is important.”

Consuelos closed the remarks by noting his personal friendships across the political spectrum, saying he has “plenty of friends on both sides” and values the diversity of viewpoints.

Ripa followed with an inclusive message, “Everybody’s welcome at our table.”

Kimmel’s suspension had raised eyebrows across the entertainment industry. The Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC, announced the return of the comedian’s show after what it described as “thoughtful conversations with Jimmy.”

Still, not every broadcaster welcomed him back. Affiliates such as Sinclair and Nexstar revealed they would continue preempting his show in certain markets, showing the tension between corporate decisions and local control.

The controversy gained momentum when Kimmel commented on Kirk’s death during his September 15 monologue. He criticized attempts by “the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”

He added somberly, “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.”

Later, Kimmel showed a clip of Donald Trump being asked about Kirk’s death. Trump responded, “Very good,” before diverting to a White House ballroom project.

Kimmel quipped, “Yes, he’s at the fourth stage of grief: construction.”

His biting humor collided with the political climate, drawing both outrage and support.