EMOTIONAL RETURN: The Beloved Comedian Steps Back Into the Spotlight and Draws a Massive Audience—But Viewers Aren’t Sticking Around. What Went Wrong? Fans Who Expected Laughter and Magic Are Now Asking Tough Questions About Whether the Comeback Everyone Anticipated Fell Flat.

Jimmy Kimmel’s Ratings Surge Fizzles After Suspension Drama Over Charlie Kirk Comments

Jimmy Kimmel’s triumphant return to late-night was short-lived after a firestorm of controversy over his remarks about the alleged assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Disney briefly suspended ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” following backlash over Kimmel’s false suggestion that Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect, was part of the “MAGA gang”—despite evidence to the contrary.

The suspension sent shockwaves through the media world, with major broadcasters Nexstar and Sinclair yanking the show from their stations. Kimmel, standing firm, reportedly refused to apologize for his comments, further fueling the uproar.

After less than a week off the air, Disney reversed course and allowed Kimmel to return last Tuesday. His emotional monologue captivated a massive audience, drawing in 6.5 million viewers—more than triple his usual numbers. But the spike proved fleeting. By Thursday, viewership had plunged 64% to just 2.3 million.

The drop was even steeper among key demographics. In the coveted 25-54 age group, Kimmel’s audience plummeted 73%, from 1.7 million on Tuesday to 465,000 by Thursday. The younger 18-49 demo fared no better, falling from 1.2 million to just 334,000—a staggering 73% decline.

The controversy began when Kimmel suggested on air that Robinson was a MAGA supporter, despite court documents confirming his left-wing ideology. “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,” Kimmel said, igniting outrage and scrutiny from both viewers and the FCC.

Disney’s decision to suspend the show was met with fierce debate. Nexstar and Sinclair refused to air “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” until Friday, when they finally relented and allowed its return. Kimmel’s comeback monologue was passionate, but he stopped short of a full apology.

The drama has only highlighted a longer-term trend: “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has been steadily losing viewers for years. The show averaged 2.4 million viewers in 2015, slipping to 2.2 million in 2016 and 2017, then 2.1 million in 2018. By 2021, nightly viewership had dropped to just 1.5 million, and in 2025, the average stood at 1.6 million—a 37% fall since 2015.

As the dust settles, it’s clear that while controversy can draw a crowd, keeping them is another story. Jimmy Kimmel’s moment in the spotlight may have burned bright, but it faded just as quickly.