Jimmy Kimmel Says His Remarks About Charlie Kirk’s Slaying Were ‘Maliciously Mischaracterized’

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel defended himself Wednesday, saying conservative outlets “maliciously mischaracterized” his comments about the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk — remarks that briefly led to a suspension of his show.

Kimmel revisited the controversy during an appearance at Bloomberg’s Screentime event, telling interviewer Lucas Shaw that he did not believe his initial reaction to Kirk’s killing warranted the backlash it received. “I didn’t think there was a big problem,” Kimmel said. “I just saw it as distortion on the part of some of the right?wing media networks, and I aimed to correct it.”

He added: “It was intentionally and I think maliciously mischaracterized,” repeating the line when Shaw suggested his words were likely taken out of context.

The host was widely criticized last month after saying “the MAGA gang” had sought to portray the accused shooter as “anything other than one of them” and accused conservatives of using the tragedy for political gain. The backlash led to a brief suspension of his program; the absence from the air lasted less than a week.

When Kimmel returned to television, he delivered a tearful, on?air statement that many described as a non?apology. “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” he said then, insisting he did not intend to blame any particular political faction for the actions of “an obviously deeply disturbed individual.” He acknowledged that his comments had landed poorly for some viewers and expressed understanding of their hurt.

Speaking with Bloomberg, Kimmel said his first episode back went about as well as he could have hoped. He also pushed back against claims that the Trump administration had a role in his suspension, and said he would welcome the chance to have President Trump on his show.

Kimmel’s return drew high ratings for the episode, though viewers didn’t stay at that peak in subsequent weeks. The episode and the suspension continue to fuel debate about the responsibilities of media figures and the boundaries of commentary in the wake of high-profile violence.