Jimmy Kimmel’s return to late-night television after a brief suspension attracted 6.26 million viewers, marking the show’s highest ratings in over a decade, despite not airing in 23% of U.S. households due to controversy surrounding his comments on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Following backlash and discussions with ABC affiliates, Kimmel defended free speech and expressed his intentions regarding the tragic event during his opening monologue, which gained over 26 million views online within 24 hours.
