ABC has renewed Jimmy Kimmel’s contract for another year—extending the late-night host’s tenure through May 2027—following what insiders describe as one of the most politically volatile episodes in the network’s recent history.

The contract extension, first reported by Bloomberg and confirmed by Fox News Digital, arrives just months after Kimmel’s show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, was abruptly pulled from ABC’s schedule in September. The move came after a backlash over comments Kimmel made suggesting the alleged assassin who murdered Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was part of the MAGA movement.

At the time, that claim was factually incorrect: 22-year-old Tyler Robinson had already been publicly reported to hold left-wing ideological views, a detail later reaffirmed in court filings. But the remark ignited a firestorm stretching from Congress to Hollywood.

Kimmel’s Comment That Sparked the Storm

During his monologue shortly after the assassination, Kimmel said:

“We hit some new lows over the weekend with 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.”

Within hours, conservative commentators, lawmakers, and media executives condemned the claim as reckless. The FCC issued a veiled warning suggesting it might investigate ABC for spreading misinformation on a national broadcast platform.

Major television groups—including Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group—announced they would pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! from their stations unless ABC took action. Under mounting pressure, Disney preempted the show “indefinitely.”

President Donald Trump publicly celebrated the suspension, calling it “great news for America.”

Hollywood vs. ABC: The Backlash That Forced the Network’s Hand

The network’s decision to sideline Kimmel triggered a whiplash backlash from the left.

Thousands of viewers reportedly canceled subscriptions to Disney+ and Hulu. A-list celebrities and comedians rallied behind Kimmel, accusing the Trump administration and conservative media of trying to silence political speech. Writers’ rooms, talent agencies, and SAG-AFTRA leaders privately pressed Disney to reinstate him.

The situation quickly turned into a proxy war over free expression, with Disney caught between conservative corporate partners and liberal creative talent.

Executives eventually brought Kimmel back after several weeks off-air—under the condition he address the controversy.

A Tearful On-Air Clarification

In his return monologue, an emotional Kimmel attempted to clarify:

“Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions.
It was a deeply disturbed individual.
That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make.”

He acknowledged people were right to be upset and added:

“If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I would have felt the same way.”

Kimmel went on to stress that he has friends and family across the political spectrum and insisted that Robinson “does not represent anyone” but himself.

ABC’s Calculus: Risk vs. Ratings

Despite the turbulence, ABC has leaned on Kimmel as one of late-night television’s most recognizable faces—now entering his 25th year at the network.

Sources say Disney evaluated:

brand loyalty among young viewers,

political blowback risks,

and the prospect of losing Kimmel to a streaming rival.

Ultimately, executives decided extending his contract carried less risk than letting him walk, especially with late-night TV audiences shrinking and competition intensifying.

A senior Disney official reportedly told staff:

“Jimmy remains a cornerstone of our lineup.
One controversy doesn’t erase two decades of success.”

The Road to 2027: A Host Who Won’t Stop Stirring Debate

With the new contract, Kimmel will remain one of the few openly liberal voices in mainstream late-night television—a role that guarantees both loyalty from his base and constant scrutiny from the right.

His extension also signals ABC’s willingness to weather political storms in an era where comedy, culture, and partisanship intersect more explosively than ever.

For now, Kimmel’s future at the network appears secure—though, as the events of 2025 showed, no late-night host is immune from the political chaos of the moment.