Why Jimmy Kimmel agreed to return to ABC

Jimmy Kimmel is back at ABC, with reports claiming he returned to protect his crew’s jobs despite wanting to quit.

Jimmy Kimmel is officially returning to Jimmy Kimmel Live! after a turbulent suspension, and a new report suggests his decision was not about personal redemption but about his staff.

According to the Daily Mail, Kimmel agreed to come back to ABC “out of respect” for the people who work behind the scenes on his show. A source alleged that the late-night host was primarily motivated by a desire to ensure his crew did not lose further pay or miss more shifts. “He wanted everyone in his crew not to miss any more work than they already have missed,” the insider claimed.

Kimmel’s show was suspended last week after his controversial remarks on Charlie Kirk’s death sparked a backlash. TV station conglomerate Nexstar Media and other affiliates objected to his monologue, in which he accused the “MAGA gang” of trying to frame the suspected shooter as someone outside their movement. ABC announced the programme would be “pre-empted indefinitely,” sparking outrage among celebrities and fans. More than 400 public figures signed a statement condemning the suspension as a “dark moment for freedom of speech,” while figures like Howard Stern joined subscribers threatening to boycott Disney+.

Behind the scenes, however, sources told Page Six that Kimmel was prepared not to return at all. He allegedly wanted to walk away but decided to come back to give his team stability while they planned their next steps. One insider suggested he still intends to leave when his contract ends in 2026 unless ABC offers “a boatload of money.”

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The latest reports also claim Kimmel is expected to use his Tuesday night monologue to address the suspension head-on. Sources told that he is “not going to roll over and just take it” and is ready “to come out swinging.”

ABC has not commented publicly on the reported terms of Kimmel’s return, and his representatives have stayed silent. What is confirmed is that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will resume airing, though some affiliates, including Sinclair Broadcast Group, will continue to pre-empt it with local news programming.

With his return, Kimmel now faces a test of whether the controversy will boost his audience or deepen the divides that put his career on pause just a week earlier.