Jimmy Kimmel delivered an emotional and lengthy monologue during his taped return to ABC on September 23, 2025. The network reinstated his late-night comedy show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, less than a week after his comment about Charlie Kirk‘s suspected shooter, Tyler Robinson, caused an uproar among critics, many of whom are asking if he apologized.
Keep reading to find out whether or not Kimmel’s monologue included an apology.
Depending where you’re located, Jimmy Kimmel Live! is available to watch on ABC. However, Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group pre-empted the show from its ABC-affiliated stations in multiple regions of the country.
Viewers can stream Kimmel’s show on either Hulu or Disney+ after episodes air on ABC.
No, Kimmel did not make a formal apology for the comment he made about Kirk’s alleged shooter and the “MAGA gang” on September 15. He did, however, get emotional during his monologue while clarifying that he “never” meant to “make light” of Kirk’s killing.
“It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel said while fighting back tears.. “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it. … [It wasn’t] my intention to blame any specific group for the actions what — it was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. … That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make, but I understand that, to some, it felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both. And for those who think I did point a finger, I get why you’re upset. If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I’d have felt the same way.”
Kimmel also pointed out that he immediately sent his condolences to Kirk’s widowed wife, Erika Kirk, and their children when the Turning Point USA founder was shot.
