Jimmy Kimmel almost teared up when addressing his Charlie Kirk comments on his return to television.
The American TV presenter, 57, was temporarily taken off the air following his comments about the 10 September shooting of the right-wing political activist.
Last Monday (15 September), Kimmel said that Donald Trump fans were weaponising the 31-year-old's death to 'score political points'.
"We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it," he told viewers.
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Two days later, ABC said the long-running chat show 'will be preempted indefinitely' because of his comments.
Shortly after, more than 400 film and TV stars added their names to an open letter from the American Civil Liberties Union, calling the decision 'a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation'.
Then, at the start of this week, the broadcaster reinstated him following the claims of government censorship.
"We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday," ABC said.
On his return on Tuesday night (23 September), Kimmel said 'it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man'.
"I don’t think there's anything funny about it," he admitted, as he choked up.
"Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual.
"That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make."
Kimmel said he completely understood why the remarks 'felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both'.
The host also praised Kirk's widow, Erika, for forgiving her husband's killer at his memorial service, calling it a 'selfless act of grace... that touched me deeply'.
Later on, Kimmel hit out at Trump, saying he did 'his best to cancel me' but 'instead, he forced millions of people to watch the show'.
"The President of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs. Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke."
It comes after Trump - who has been critical of Kimmel’s comments and 'lack of talent' as a TV presenter - wrote on Truth Social: “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back.
“The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his 'talent' was never there.
“Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE.”
Topics: Jimmy Kimmel, TV, Donald Trump, Politics
Anish Vij