The Jimmy Kimmel Live!/Charlie Kirk saga isn't over yet, despite ABC reinstating its late-night TV host last week. Both the entertainment industry and political sphere continue to weigh in on what happened. That includes Turning Point USA, the organization founded by Kirk, which had a surprising reaction to Kimmel's return.
ABC suspended Kimmel last month over the comedian's comments on Kirk's murder. Critics argued Kimmel attempted to place the blame on conservatives and the MAGA movement, while Kimmel explained he poorly worded the point he wanted to make. After a few days of fans and celebrities calling for Kimmel's return, ABC put him back on the air.
The decision was celebrated by Kimmel's late-night colleagues and those who argued ABC infringed on the comedian's free speech or gave into FCC pressure. On the other hand, others criticized the network for not adequately punishing Kimmel and cancelling his show.
TPUSA spokesman Andrew Kolvet had an unexpected response to the controversy, telling Fox News Digital he was "relieved" Kimmel didn't get cancelled. However, it wasn't for the same reasons many of Kimmel's allies welcomed the news.
"I don't want Jimmy Kimmel to be a martyr," Kolvet said. "He doesn't deserve it. He's a liar, he's an unrepentant liar, but he should not be considered a martyr by anybody,"
Rather than see more people rally behind a cancelled Kimmel, Kolvet is hoping that the late-night host's audience just fades away. "What I hope happens is that this has so tarnished his legacy, and his trust that's held by the audience, that this is going to work itself out over time," Kolvet said.
Unfortunately for Kolvet, the numbers suggest Kimmel's audience is sticking by him. Kimmel's first episode back from suspension delivered his highest ratings in years. And while those numbers have dipped over the past week, they're still pacing ahead of Kimmel's previous performance.
And those looking for a free-speech "martyr" may already have one in Stephen Colbert. The Late Show host will lose his job at CBS in May 2026, with many claiming Paramount ditched the host in order to appease the White House and facilitate a merger with Skydance. Colbert hasn't changed his tune since the news but rather doubled-down on his criticism of the Trump administration.
Kimmel may take a similar approach over the coming months. He's already seen how the world will react if ABC and Disney chose to take his show away again.