Jimmy Kimmel shared a candid and humorous account of the moment he learned that his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, would be pulled from the air following his controversial monologue. Speaking on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Kimmel recounted receiving a phone call from ABC executives just hours before the September 30 taping, informing him that the show would be suspended.
Kimmel explained that he had to take the call while in the bathroom, as it was the only private place he could go in his office. “I thought, it’s over,” Kimmel joked, reflecting on his reaction to the shocking news. He added that when he left the bathroom, he told his team about the decision, feeling shaken by the prospect of never returning to the air.
The suspension came after Kimmel’s September 15 monologue, where he made political comments about the death of Charlie Kirk, leading to a public backlash. The show was taken off air for a brief period, with several ABC affiliates, including Nexstar Media and Sinclair, replacing it with news programming.
Despite the uproar, Kimmel remained positive, acknowledging the strong support from fellow late-night hosts and over 400 celebrities who signed a letter defending free speech. The show resumed airing on September 23 after widespread support and reflection on the situation.
