TV stations refuse to run Jimmy Kimmel's show after woke pressure forces it back on-air

Despite being reinstated by Disney, the parent company of broadcaster ABC, Nexstar, one of the biggest owners of TV stations in the US, has refused to show the programme.

It said: "We made a decision last week to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! following what ABC referred to as Mr Kimmel's 'ill-timed and insensitive' comments at a critical time in our national discourse.

"We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve."

During a monologue, Mr Kimmel said: "We hit some new lows over the weekend with the Maga gang trying to characterise this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them."

Then, turning to Donald Trump, he added: "This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.

"Many in Maga land are working very hard to capitalise on the murder of Charlie Kirk."

On Wednesday, Mr Trump hit back.

The President had previously welcomed the host's suspension and warned that a number of TV networks should have their licences "taken away".

Now, he has raged at his return.

"I can't believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back," he said.

"The White House was told by ABC that his show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is gone, and his 'talent' was never there.

"Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who's not funny, and who puts the network in jeopardy by playing 99 per cent positive Democrat garbage.

"He is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major illegal campaign contribution. 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 $16million. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad ratings."

Sinclair, which also runs stations affiliated with ABC, has also refused to show the programme when it returns to air.

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The firm's vice-chairman, Jason Smith, said: "Mr Kimmel's remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country."

On Monday, Sinclair said it would be "preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming".

It added: "Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show's potential return."

Mr Kimmel's comments, and his subsequent suspension, had sparked fury from America's entertainment elite.

The late-night host had shared images to social media of himself with the late TV writer and liberal activist Norman Lear in what some said was an attempt to draw parallels between the two.

Hundreds of celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro queued up to decry his suspension as a "dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation" in an open letter backing Mr Kimmel.

But Josh Denny, a stand-up comedian and podcaster, said following Mr Kimmel's return: "Jimmy Kimmel is back? That's fine.

"Now bring back Charlie Kirk. What do you mean 'you can't?' I thought they were equal atrocities."

Announcing the show's return to its usual spot, Disney said: "Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.

"It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-times 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."