Jimmy Kimmel returned to social media for the first time since his late night show was abruptly pulled out from the ABC’s lineup.
The 57 year old host took to his account on Instagram on Tuesday to share a tribute that many fans saw as a subtle statement regarding the controversy linked to his program.
‘Missing this guy today’- Kimmel added alongside an image of himself with legendary TV producer Norman Lear, who died at the age of 101 in December of 2023.
Lear, who was best known for creating groundbreaking sitcoms such as All the Family and the Jeffersons, was a staunch defender for free speech as well as the First Amendment.
He was also famously on Richard Nixon’s enemies’ list during his presidency from 1969 to 1974. This post was Kimmel’s first public comment since ABC shared it all last week that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be preempted indefinitely in the wake of his controversial remarks linked to the death of the MAGA activist.
As per Variety, ABC’s decision arose after Nexstar Media, which operates dozens of affiliate stations across the nation, threatened to remove Kimmel’s show from the lineup of programs. Now, he’s back on air, despite many states not choosing to display his content on air as the suspension is yet to be fully lifted in the manner that many had hoped.