Entertainment
Jimmy Kimmel, in first monologue since show was taken off air, says “it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man”
Jimmy Kimmel returned to his long-running late-night show Tuesday, less than a week after network broadcaster ABC pulled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” over remarks he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“It’s been overwhelming…I’ve heard from all the people in the world over the last six days,” Kimmel joked to open his monologue, going on to thank all those who came out in his defense, including conservatives.
“Most of all, I want to thank the people who don’t support my show and what I believe, but support my right to share those beliefs anyway,” Kimmel said. “I never would have imagined that Ben Shapiro, Clay Travis, Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, even my old pal Ted Cruz, who believe it or not said something very beautiful on my behalf. It takes courage for them to speak out against this administration. They did and they deserve credit for it.”
The Walt Disney Company, which owns ABC, had announced Monday that Kimmel would return to the air.
It followed a political and media firestorm that began after the comedian addressed Kirk’s slaying in a Sept. 15 monologue, saying: “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang 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.”
An emotional Kimmel Tuesday said that “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. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it,” noting that he had taken to social media following Kirk’s killing to send his condolences to Kirk’s family.
Kimmel didn’t issue a blanket apology for his monologue remarks last week, but said he understood how it was offensive to some.
“Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual,” Kimmel said of the suspected gunman. “That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make. But I understand that to some, that felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both. And for those who think I did, 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 gave a brief explanation for what took place behind the scenes between himself and ABC’s brass.
“I was not happy when they pulled me off the air on Wednesday,” Kimmel said. “I did not agree with that decision, and I told them that, and we had many conversations. I shared my point of view, they shared theirs. We talked it through, and at the end, even though they didn’t have to, they really didn’t have to, this is a giant company…they welcomed be back on the air.”
On Tuesday night, before the show aired on the East Coast, Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social, “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled!”
He went on, “I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars,” Mr. Trump said in reference to his defamation lawsuit last year against ABC News over remarks made by anchor George Stephanopoulos, — which the network settled in December by agreeing to contribute $15 million to Mr. Trump’s presidential foundation and museum, and another $1 million towards Mr. Trump’s legal fees.
“This one sounds even more lucrative,” Mr. Trump wrote Tuesday. “A true bunch of losers!”
Kimmel told his audience Tuesday that the president “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.”
“One thing I did learn from Lenny Bruce and George Carlin and Howard Stern, is that a government threat to silence a comedian the president doesn’t like, is anti-American,” he added.
In a Sept. 17 interview with right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr called Kimmel’s remarks “some of the sickest conduct possible,” and said there was a “path forward for suspension over this.”
“The FCC is going to have remedies we could look at,” Carr told Johnson. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
Within hours of that interview, station operator Nexstar announced it would preempt Kimmel’s show over the remarks. Nexstar owns and operates more than 200 stations nationwide, including more than two dozen ABC affiliates. Nexstar has a deal pending to purchase Tegna, a smaller rival, for $6.2 billion, and needs the Federal Communications Commission to approve it.
A Nexstar spokesperson told CBS News last week that the decision to preempt Kimmel’s show was “made unilaterally by the senior executive team at Nexstar, and they had no communication with the FCC or any government agency prior to making that decision.”
ABC later said that it was “indefinitely” suspending the show.
Another major station owner, Sinclair Broadcast Group, also said last week that it was pulling Kimmel’s show.
Despite its return to ABC on Tuesday night, both Nexstar and Sinclair said they would continue to preempt Kimmel’s show.
Sinclair on Monday night posted a statement on X saying it will preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” across its ABC affiliate stations and will be “replacing it with news programming” beginning Tuesday night. “Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return,” Sinclair said.
Nexstar on Tuesday said it will continue to preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “monitor the show as it returns to ABC.”
Regarding Carr, Kimmel Tuesday showed the audience a social media post that the FCC chair wrote in May 2022 in which he said, “Political satire is one of the oldest and most important forms of free speech. It challenges those in power while using humor to draw more people in to the discussion. That’s why people in influential positions have always targeted it for censorship.”
Disney on Monday did not delve into the details of what led to its decision to allow Kimmel’s show to resume, only saying in a statement that the initial suspension was “to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” calling his comments “ill-timed and thus insensitive.”
“We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday,” Disney said.
The temporary removal of Kimmel’s show sparked a nationwide debate over issues of free speech and censorship. Many in the Hollywood community rallied to Kimmel’s side, with more than 400 celebrities — including actors Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep — signing an open letter with the American Civil Liberties Union that criticized the move as “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
Conservatives upset with Kimmel’s comments about Kirk praised the decision, including President Trump, who congratulated ABC on his Truth Social platform “for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.”
Mr. Trump also speculated last week whether networks that cover him negatively should have their broadcast licenses revoked.
“They give me only bad publicity or press,” the president told reporters on Sept. 18. “I mean, they’re getting a license. I would think maybe their license should be taken away. It will be up to Brendan Carr.”
But one prominent conservative, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, was specifically critical of Carr’s comments to Johnson.
“I gotta say, that’s right out of ‘Goodfellas,'” Cruz said Friday on his podcast. “That’s right out of a mafioso coming into a bar, going, ‘nice bar you have here, it’d be a shame if something happened to it.'”
Kimmel’s show, which launched in 2003, tapes in front of a studio audience on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. The guests for Tuesday’s show included actor Glen Powell and singer Sarah McLachlan.
Kathryn Watson and
contributed to this report.
Veteran Bollywood star Dharmendra’s family has confirmed that he has returned home following brief hospitalization due to undisclosed health issue.
According to reports by Indian media, the actor will continue his recovery at home after he was taken to Breach Candy Hospital in South Mumbai due to breathlessness.
Soon after, the news of the actor’s death sent shockwaves through fans worldwide, but separate statements from his wife Hema Malini, daughter Esha Deol and son Sunny Deol confirmed that the reports were false.
Following his discharged, the actor’s doctor told PTI, “Mr Dharmendra Deol has been discharged this morning from Breach Candy hospital at 7:30 am. His treatment and recovery will continue at home.”
Dharmendra’s manager Amit Tuli also confirmed, “Mr. Dharmendra has been discharged from the hospital and will continue his recovery at home.”
“We kindly request the media and the public to refrain from any further speculation and to respect his and the family’s privacy during this time.
“We appreciate everyone’s love, prayers, and good wishes for his continued recovery, good health, and long life. Please respect him because he loves you.”
However, ET Now reported that an insider has claimed, on condition of anonymity, that Dharmendra’s “health is not in a great state”
- Law Minister Tarar tabled bill in lower house yesterday.
- PTI’s Barrister Gohar calls tweaks “Baku Amendments”.
- 27th Amendment seeks to overhaul military, judicial structures.
The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, tabled by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar in the National Assembly on Tuesday, is likely to be approved by the lower house today (Wednesday), as the PML-N-led ruling coalition holds the required two-thirds majority.
The 59-clause amendment, passed by the Senate on Monday, seeks to overhaul the country’s military and judicial structures. It was moved by the law minister and secured 64 votes in the 96-member House, with no votes against it, as opposition lawmakers boycotted the proceedings and tore up their copies in protest.
Apart from treasury members, ANP’s senators, PTI-backed Saifullah Abro, and JUI-F’s Ahmed Khan also supported the bill. In a surprise move, Abro refrained from joining the protest and later announced his resignation from the Senate.
The lower house session began half an hour late on Tuesday with prayers offered for PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui, who passed away after brief illness.
The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill requires a two-thirds majority in the 336-member National Assembly for passage. The ruling coalition appears well-positioned to secure the numbers, with the PML-N holding 125 seats, the PPP 74, MQM-P 22, PML-Q four, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party four, and one seat each held by the PML-Z, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), and National Peoples Party.
In contrast, the opposition benches collectively have 103 members.
Tarar defends bill
Speaking on the floor of the NA a day earlier, Tarar said: “[The] Senate has passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill with a two-thirds majority. In the joint parliamentary committee, the opposition should also have attended the session.”
During his speech, the opposition benches staged a strong protest over the 27th Constitutional Amendment and raised slogans.
“World over, constitutional benches handle matters related to the Constitution… judicial appointments are made through judicial commissions. In Pakistan, we have established a proper procedure and removed the powers of suo motu action in this bill,” said the law minister while explaining the 27th Amendment.
Tarar further explained the changes regarding judicial transfers, saying: “Previously, under Article 200, judges were transferred, and these transfers were often challenged. The judicial commission is now authorised to transfer judges. If a judge refuses a transfer, they will be considered retired. The commission will include five judges from the Supreme Court and Federal Constitutional Court, and two members each from the government and opposition.”
“Provincial matters and constitutional cases will be handled by the Federal Constitutional Court, while the Supreme Court will hear over 62,000 cases, including civil and other matters,” he added.
Tarar also highlighted the role of the military in Pakistan’s defence and the reforms proposed under the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
“The military played a crucial role when India attacked, and the entire House witnessed unity against the threat. After our victory, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Arab countries praised and supported us,” he added.
The law minister explained the status of military ranks, stating: “The appointment of the army chief is made under the Army Act. A Field Marshal is a rank held in many countries and remains a lifetime honour. Appointments in the armed forces are based on rank, and the Field Marshal distinction continues to be a lifelong title.”
He added: “After a Field Marshal receives the rank, it is necessary to bring it within constitutional limits. We were part of the war committee and observed the army chief demonstrating exceptional performance and skill.”
Tarar further touched on constitutional provisions regarding presidential exemption, saying: “A special exemption has been proposed for the president… if the president returns to public office, the exemption will end. We request that this matter be debated and then put to a vote.”
On the proposed 27th Amendment, Tarar said: “Out of 59, 47 amendments were made due to the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court. I urge our opposition [bench members] to listen to each other and make constructive suggestions.
Gohar calls tweaks ‘Baku Amendments’
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar described the constitutional amendments as deeply problematic.
“Buildings constructed for personal gain are considered monuments of slavery,” he said.
Gohar referred to the legal tweaks as the “Baku Amendments”, saying that the “head of a nuclear state” was approving amendments from abroad, in a jibe at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was on an official visit to Azerbaijan when the federal cabinet approved the 27th Constitutional Amendment draft.
He added that cases have been closed and sidelined to benefit certain interests. “Amending the constitution is a sensitive matter.”
“Today is a day of mourning for democracy, and steps are being taken to bury it,” he said. “We do not accept these Baku Amendments.”
He recalled that when the PDM government came to power for the first time, the first action taken was to amend the NAB Ordinance.
“Being answerable before the constitution and the law is what democracy is,” he said. “Accountability before the law is the supremacy of law. We make laws and then take exemption from the law. Are we bringing an elite class that will be above the law?” Gohar asked.
PTI chairman highlighted the ongoing corruption cases against President Asif Zardari, asking why he could not appear and deny the allegations. Barrister Gohar also referred to a precedent in Britain, saying the chief justice had told the monarch that the law is supreme.
“We will bring them to the bar of law and make them accountable,” he added.
Gohar also criticised the amendment process, stating that the chief justice of Pakistan had effectively been abolished and replaced with the “Chief Justice of the Supreme Court”.
He further noted that the amendments were passed with only two votes from dissenting members, and warned that such amendments cannot serve the public.
Highlights of new amendment
- Chief of Army Staff to assume role as Chief of Defence Forces
- Field Marshal, Marshal of Air Force, Admiral of Fleet titles to remain for life
- Federal Constitutional Court to be established
- Equal provincial representation approved in Federal Constitutional Court
- FCC empowered to take suo motu notice upon petitions
- Islamabad High Court to have one judge on FCC bench
- President and prime minister to play a key role in judicial appointments
- Supreme Court powers to be reduced, with some authorities shifted to the new court
- Presidential immunity limited if president assumes any public office after tenure
- Judges must serve five years in high court for eligibility of Constitutional Court
- Judicial Commission to decide transfer of high court judges
- Objections on transfers to be reviewed by Supreme Judicial Council
Now You See Me cast reportedly gushed about Morgan Freeman.
The movie’s cast could not contain their admiration for Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman at the film’s New York City premiere on November 10.
The Oscar-winning actor, 88, returns as Thaddeus Bradley for the third installment of the hit heist franchise, a role he has played since the series first launched in 2013.
Speaking to PEOPLE Magazine, several of Freeman’s co-stars admitted they were completely starstruck on set.
“The first day we met him, we were all, like, gawking around him, ranking his best movies,” shared Dominic Sessa with a laugh.
“I think we were all kind of fanning out when he was around — just so cool to be able to make a movie with a living legend.”
In addition to this, co-star Justice Smith echoed the sentiment, noting how meaningful it was to share the screen with the cinematic icon.
“He’s an icon. I have a lot of reverence for him as a young Black actor. Yeah, it definitely was surreal.””
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