Jimmy Kimmel Live! staff 'relieved' to return to work after host's suspension

Staff at Jimmy Kimmel Live! are reportedly over the moon as they've been given the green light to return to work. The popular TV chat show is set to make a comeback on Tuesday (23.09. 25), and the news has been met with "relief and joy" by the team.

One member of staff shared their happiness with a publication, saying: "Relief and joy across the board. Myself and my colleagues are overjoyed. Can't wait to see tomorrow's monologue." The good news was delivered to the staff via email, which was notably "different" from Disney's public statement.

Disney announced Jimmy's return to TV on Monday. In a statement, the media giant said: "Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.

"It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. 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."

A staff member revealed of the e-mail they received. "It was short and to the point," before adding to People : "Just sharing the good news and telling us to come to work tomorrow."

The comedian was initially suspended following his suggestion that Tyler Robinson, the man accused of fatally shooting Kirk at a university in Utah, was aligned to the Make America Great Again movement.

Jimmy stated in his opening speech: "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 doing everything they can to score political points from it. In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving."

The decision to suspend Jimmy, 57, was initially announced by Nexstar Media, the largest local broadcast and digital media company in the US.

The firm clarified at the time: "Nexstar strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets."

One major ABC affiliate is still refusing to air his show. Sinclair Inc, whose local stations pay to run ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!, is standing by its policy from last week to keep the show off air indefinitely.

However, the late-night show will run tonight on other ABC affiliates after ABC held "thoughtful conversations" with Jimmy in the past few days.

But Sinclair Inc will air its own news programming instead tonight, it has confirmed. A statement said: "Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show's potential return."

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