Late Night Ratings Come In
What began as a dramatic return for Jimmy Kimmel after a brief suspension has quickly unraveled into a ratings disaster. ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! is now suffering a sharp and potentially irreversible decline in viewership, following the host’s controversial—and factually incorrect—remarks about the alleged assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
According to Nielsen data cited last week, Kimmel lost an astonishing 71% of the audience that tuned in for his September 23 return, drawing only 1.9 million viewers on Thursday, October 2. Among adults aged 25-54—the demographic most coveted by advertisers—Kimmel saw an 85% plunge, dropping from 1.7 million to just 265,000 viewers. It was the lowest number in that age bracket since the suspension, a stunning fall from what was initially hailed as a triumphant comeback.
Prior to the controversy, Kimmel averaged a solid 1.6 million viewers in 2025. With his post-return audience rapidly approaching that baseline, the temporary spike that followed Disney’s decision to bring him back now looks more like a flash in the pan than a sustainable rebound.
The backlash began when Kimmel falsely implied on air that Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old charged with Kirk’s assassination, was affiliated with the “MAGA gang”—despite early evidence, later confirmed in an indictment, showing the suspect held leftist political views. Rather than retracting the claim or issuing an apology, Kimmel doubled down, accusing conservatives of politicizing the tragedy while sidestepping his own misleading rhetoric.
Public pressure mounted. Nexstar and Sinclair pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from syndication, and the FCC began scrutinizing the broadcast in response to complaints. Disney, in a rare move, temporarily suspended the show. But the decision triggered backlash from Kimmel’s progressive supporters, with protesters gathering in Burbank and Hollywood chanting “ABC bent the knee! No to the FCC!”
After less than a week, Disney reversed course, allowing Kimmel to return with a monologue that addressed the controversy—but conspicuously stopped short of an apology. The host quickly resumed his nightly criticism of conservatives, including President Donald Trump, signaling that little had changed in tone or direction.
Critics, especially from the conservative sphere, were not impressed. Andrew Kolvet of Turning Point USA blasted Kimmel’s response as “unrepentant,” accusing him of exploiting a national tragedy to score political points. The accusation that Kimmel had misrepresented the facts, particularly while grieving supporters were still holding vigils for Kirk, ignited fierce condemnation.
The fallout appears to be reverberating beyond the news cycle. On the same night that Kimmel’s ratings dropped, Fox News’ Gutfeld!—the right-leaning late-night satire show—dominated the time slot, pulling in 2.8 million viewers and beating Kimmel by a staggering 49%. In the critical 25-54 demographic, Gutfeld! led by 40%.
This kind of collapse raises serious questions about Kimmel’s future. While he still commands a loyal progressive base, the sharp decline in mainstream viewership suggests that the suspension saga and subsequent controversy have severely eroded trust—and tolerance—for what many now see as overtly partisan late-night comedy.