Jimmy Kimmel Cries During Monologue over Charlie Kirk’s Widow

Jimmy Kimmel revealed his reaction to his late-night show’s brief hiatus.

During his monologue in his first episode back, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, addressed his previous remarks about Charlie Kirk. Towards the middle of the monologue, Kimmel tearfully spoke about Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, and her speech at his Sunday, Sept. 21, memorial service.

Kirk, a right-wing commentator who founded Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on Sept. 10 while at a speaking event at Utah Valley University. He was 31. Tyler Robinson was charged with aggravated murder in connection with Kirk’s death.

During the memorial, Erika, who was recently elected the new CEO and chairman of Turning Point USA, spoke to the crowd and shared a message of forgiveness for Tyler Robinson.

Kimmel then delivered an emotional message, saying, “Erika Kirk forgave the man who shot her husband. She forgave him.”

“That is an example we should follow. If you believe in the teachings of Jesus as I do, there it was,” he continued. “That’s it. A selfless act of grace, forgiveness from a grieving widow.”

Kimmel added, “It touched me deeply. I hope it touches many, and if there’s anything we should take from this tragedy to carry forward, I hope it can be that and not this.”

Throughout his monologue, he also clarified that he wanted to “make something clear.”

“It’s important to me as a human. And that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” he said through tears. “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.”

“I posted a message on Instagram of the day he was killed, sending love to his family and asking for compassion, and I meant it and I still do,” he continued. “Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make.”

He then acknowledged, “But I understand that to some that felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both. And for those who think I did uh 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’s revelation comes nearly a week after ABC put his late-night show on an indefinite hiatus on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

The decision was made after the Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr warned that the FCC could take action against the network and its parent company, Disney, for Kimmel’s remarks made in the wake of the death of a late right-wing commentator.

Kimmel discussed Kirk’s death during the Monday, Sept. 15 episode, where he said, “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 and doing everything they can to score political points from it.” Adding, “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.”

The show was then pulled from the air indefinitely on Sept. 17, an ABC spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE. Additionally, two of the largest broadcasting companies, Nexstar and Sinclair, announced they would preempt the show on their affiliate stations.

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In the days that followed, activist groups, late-night hosts, Hollywood figures, and political commentators expressed their outrage over ABC’s decision.

Then on Monday, Sept. 22, the Walt Disney Company issued a statement confirming that the show will return on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

However, following the news of the show’s return, both Nexstar and Sinclair declared they will continue preempting the broadcast.

During Kimmel’s suspension, a memorial service was held for Kirk on Sunday, Sept. 21. Tens of thousands — with an audience exceeding the stadium’s capacity of 63,400 — arrived at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., to pay tribute to Kirk.

Attendees and the overflow crowds watched the pyrotechnics and high-profile speeches from secondary venues. Along with Erika, other speakers included President Donald Trump and members of his administration, including Vice President JD Vance, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., White House adviser Stephen Miller and a handful of others.