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Tuesday, October 21, 2025

“Kimmel Returns with McLachlan: Free Speech Debate Continues”

ABC’s late-night show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, made a comeback on Tuesday following a brief suspension that sparked a national conversation about freedom of speech. The show featured a surprise performance by Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, who sang her new track, “Better Broken,” as introduced by Kimmel.

McLachlan had previously pulled out of a U.S. documentary premiere to support free speech, which led to discussions about the issue. Despite this, two groups of ABC affiliates, Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, refused to air Kimmel’s return episode, citing the need for respectful and constructive dialogue.

While Nexstar Media Group operates 32 ABC affiliate stations in the U.S., Sinclair Broadcast Group is the largest ABC affiliate operator in the country. Together, they control a significant portion of ABC affiliates in the United States. However, Citytv, owned by Rogers Communications and holding the Canadian rights to Kimmel’s show, confirmed that they would resume broadcasting the show.

During the episode, McLachlan was joined by actor Glen Powell, who was initially the sole guest scheduled to appear. McLachlan spoke about her decision to cancel a performance in Los Angeles, highlighting concerns about women’s rights, and free speech issues.

Kimmel, on the other hand, made his first social media post since the suspension, paying tribute to television icon Norman Lear. Lear, known for his stance against censorship by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), was a vocal advocate for free speech in media.

The suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” came after controversial comments made by Kimmel in a previous monologue. The FCC chair, Brendan Carr, expressed concerns about Kimmel’s remarks misleading the public, hinting at potential regulatory actions against the show.

In response to the controversy, Nexstar and Sinclair decided to replace the show with other programming, following Carr’s statements. This move was met with approval from some quarters, including U.S. President Donald Trump, who lauded the decision.

The involvement of the FCC in the situation raised concerns about government interference and censorship. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the actions taken against Kimmel, drawing parallels to previous instances of media censorship and regulatory pressure.

Warren also raised questions about potential bribery and political influence in media mergers, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate around free speech and media regulation. Despite denials from Carr and Paramount, the issue remains a subject of investigation and discussion.

As the situation unfolds, stakeholders continue to express their views on the matter, with Democrats accusing Carr of weaponizing the FCC for political purposes. Carr, however, maintains that the show’s suspension was due to low ratings rather than regulatory pressure.

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