Jimmy Kimmel’s celebrity peers, including his close friend Jennifer Aniston, have shared their reactions to his big late-night TV return following his recent suspension.

The 57-year-old host was ‘indefinitely’ suspended by ABC last week after the FCC raised concerns over comments he made regarding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. However, after days of “thoughtful conversations” with Kimmel, ABC announced that *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* would return to TV screens on Tuesday night.

Despite the show’s return, broadcasting companies Sinclair and Nexstar continued their boycott of the program and did not air the new episode on their ABC affiliate stations.

### Jennifer Aniston Shows Support Amid Controversy

Jennifer Aniston showed support for Kimmel on social media for the first time amid the Kirk controversy by posting to her Instagram Story shortly after his comeback episode ended. The *Friends* star, 56, re-shared a photo from the official *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* Instagram page, showing Kimmel back at LA’s El Capitan Theater on Tuesday. She added a red heart emoji to the post as a gesture of love.

Sources recently told the *Daily Mail* that Aniston is “100 percent in [Kimmel’s] corner,” but her team had warned her that speaking out could provoke a significant backlash. It was a “very hard decision” for the actress, who has been friends with Kimmel and his wife since 2012. According to insiders, Aniston is “not a person who holds back” and often “speaks her mind.”

In addition to her personal show of support, Aniston was among several A-list stars who signed an ACLU open letter condemning Kimmel’s suspension, calling it a “dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”

### Celebrities Rally Behind Kimmel

Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx also voiced his support on Tuesday night by reacting with three flame emojis under a recent *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* Instagram post showing Kimmel on set. Fellow late-night host Stephen Colbert commented on the same post, writing: “Welcome back, brother! ❤️”

Actress Zoe Saldana shared a supportive post several hours before Kimmel’s return to air. The 47-year-old placed a “Love” sticker over a photo of Kimmel hugging his longtime sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez, 54.

Other celebrities, including Melanie Griffith and Dave Bautista, showed love for Kimmel by leaving emojis under Instagram photos from Tuesday’s show taping.

### Kimmel Addresses Controversy on Return Episode

Opening Tuesday night’s episode, Kimmel fought back tears as he addressed his earlier remarks about Charlie Kirk, saying, “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it.”

He reiterated his previous Instagram post sending love to Kirk’s family and emphasized that he still does. Attempting to clarify his comments about the Turning Point USA founder, Kimmel did not offer a direct apology but stated:

“It was not 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, but I understand that to some, it felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both.”

He acknowledged those upset by his words, saying, “If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I’d have felt the same way.”

Kimmel also took aim at former President Donald Trump, branding him a humorless enemy of free speech:

“The president of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs. Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke.”

He continued:

“He was able to squeeze Colbert out of CBS, then he turned his sights on me, and now he’s openly rooting for NBC to fire Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers and the hundreds of Americans who work for their shows who don’t make millions of dollars.”

Kimmel called on viewers to speak up if any such firings were to happen:

“And I hope that if that happens, or if there’s even any hint of that happening, you will be 10 times as loud as you were this week.”

### Gratitude and Praise

The host thanked fellow talk show hosts, fans, and even conservatives who defended him during the controversy. He ended his monologue by praising Charlie Kirk’s wife, Erika Kirk, for her act of forgiveness at her husband’s funeral:

“She forgave him. That is an example we should follow,” he said to applause. “If you believe in the teachings of Jesus, as I do, that’s it. A selfless act of grace, forgiveness from a grieving widow. It touched me deeply; I hope it touches many.”

He added through tears:

“And if there’s anything we can take from this tragedy to carry forward, it can be that—and not this,” referencing the controversy.

### Guests and Cameos on the Return Episode

Kimmel welcomed his first guests back — actor Glenn Powell, who said he was “honored” and “glad” to see Kimmel return, and singer Sarah McLachlan, who recently dropped out of a Disney event in support of the host.

Robert De Niro made a surprise cameo during the highly anticipated episode, just one day after he, the ACLU, and other A-list stars signed an open letter in solidarity with Kimmel.

The host wrapped up the show with a hopeful quip: “I think we’ll be back tomorrow night, see you then.”

### Background on the Suspension

Kimmel was suspended last week following his comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The host suggested that “the MAGA gang” was attempting to portray the suspect in Kirk’s killing “as anything other than one of them.”

ABC’s parent company, Disney, announced the suspension to “avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotionally charged moment for the country.”

According to *Variety*, ABC’s decision came after Nexstar Media, which operates dozens of affiliate stations nationwide, threatened to drop Kimmel’s show from its programming lineup. The dispute quickly became a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over free speech, political satire, and the limits of late-night comedy.

After “having thoughtful conversations” with Jimmy Kimmel, ABC announced the show’s return on Tuesday.

### Kimmel’s Social Media Return

Just hours before returning to television, Kimmel posted on Instagram for the first time since the suspension. He shared a tribute many fans saw as a subtle statement addressing the controversy:

“Missing this guy today,” Kimmel wrote alongside a photo of himself with legendary TV producer Norman Lear, who passed away at age 101 in December 2023.

Lear, known for creating groundbreaking sitcoms such as *All in the Family* and *The Jeffersons*, was a staunch defender of free speech and the First Amendment. He was famously on President Richard Nixon’s “enemies list” during Nixon’s presidency from 1969 to 1974.

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Jimmy Kimmel’s return marks a significant moment in the ongoing discussion about free speech and political satire on late-night television, with strong celebrity support and a determined host ready to continue his work.
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