On September 23, 2025, Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned to ABC after a six-day hiatus prompted by controversial remarks Kimmel made about the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. The 57-year-old host delivered a powerful monologue addressing the controversy, defending free speech, and calling for unity, while his children, Jane (11) and Billy (8), watched from their Los Angeles home, cheering enthusiastically: “Daddy, you did so good!”
Kimmel opened the show with humor, referencing the chaotic week: “I’m not sure who had a stranger 48 hours: me or the CEO of Tylenol.” He expressed gratitude for the support from late-night peers like Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, and David Letterman, as well as unexpected allies like Ted Cruz and Ben Shapiro, who defended his right to free speech despite political differences. “This affects us all,” he emphasized, thanking both fans and those who disagreed but supported his right to speak.
Addressing the controversy, Kimmel clarified that he never intended to trivialize Kirk’s murder: “It was never my intention to make light of a young man’s death.” He condemned the shooter, Tyler Robinson, shared his own experiences with threats, and stressed that violence is never the answer. Kimmel also criticized FCC chairman Brendan Carr for suggesting regulatory action against him, calling it a First Amendment violation and “un-American.” He warned of broader threats to press freedom, citing attempts to control media and journalists, and urged viewers to stand against censorship.
While Kimmel and his wife, Molly McNearney, co-head writer of the show, crafted the impactful monologue in the studio, Jane and Billy were glued to the TV at home. After the broadcast, the siblings, inspired by their father’s stance, stayed up past bedtime to rewrite a school essay titled “My Hero” about him. Jane wrote, “My mom and dad are brave for saying what’s right.” Billy added, “My dad makes people laugh but also fights for what’s fair.” Their teacher, Laura Thompson, was moved: “No grade could capture the heart in their words. It was raw, real, and full of love.”
The essay highlighted Kimmel’s courage in facing threats and defending free speech. The host closed his monologue with a message of unity, inspired by Erika Kirk’s forgiveness at her husband’s memorial: “If there’s anything we should take from this tragedy, I hope it’s that.” For Jane and Billy, their parents’ stand was a lesson in resilience and love, proving that conviction and family run deep in the Kimmel household.
