Jimmy Kimmel returned to “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Tuesday after a nearly week-long suspension by Disney, which followed controversial remarks he made about the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk. Kimmel, visibly emotional, emphasized that he never intended to mock the murder or blame any group, calling the perpetrator a “deeply disturbed individual.”

Axar.az, citing Fox News, reports that he also praised the forgiveness shown by Kirk’s widow at her husband’s funeral.

"I’ve been hearing a lot about what I need to say and do tonight, and the truth is, I don’t think what I have to say is going to make much of a difference," Kimmel said. "If you like me, you like me. If you don’t, you don’t. I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind. But I want to make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human, and that is – you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man."

Kimmel addressed his suspension, saying he disagreed with Disney’s decision but appreciated their discussions and eventual reinstatement. Despite his return, major broadcasters Sinclair and Nexstar continue to preempt the show, and former President Donald Trump criticized both Kimmel and ABC for reinstating him, accusing them of promoting partisan content and jeopardizing the network.

The controversy stems from Kimmel’s September 15 comments suggesting right-wing figures were politicizing the assassination, which were widely deemed ill-timed and insensitive.