Just In: After Boycotts and Ads Pulled, Sinclair is Bringing Back Jimmy Kimmel

In a move that demonstrates a corporate backbone with the flexibility of a weather vane, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced Friday it is reinstating “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” across its ABC affiliates. The abrupt reversal comes just days after the company took a hardline stance, pulling the program in a move of political solidarity.

The whiplash-inducing decision follows Disney/ABC’s own reinstatement of the late-night host earlier this week. Kimmel's show was briefly suspended by the network following controversial comments he made regarding the alleged murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement. While the network quickly brought its star back, Sinclair initially decided to continue the blackout on its stations.

Now, changing its mind like the wind, Sinclair has caved. In a carefully worded statement, the company attempted to frame its flip-flop as a principled stand for responsible dialogue.

“Our objective throughout this process has been to ensure that programming remains accurate and engaging for the widest possible audience. We take seriously our responsibility as local broadcasters to provide programming that serves the interests of our communities, while also honoring our obligations to air national network programming,” Sinclair said.

The statement continued, acknowledging it had received significant "thoughtful feedback" — a common corporate euphemism for backlash from viewers and advertisers.

“Over the last week, we have received thoughtful feedback from viewers, advertisers, and community leaders representing a wide range of perspectives,” Sinclair said. “We have also witnessed troubling acts of violence, including the despicable incident of a shooting at an ABC affiliate station in Sacramento. These events underscore why responsible broadcasting matters and why respectful dialogue between differing voices remains so important.”

After initially making a bold statement by defying the network, Sinclair's quick retreat suggests that the "thoughtful feedback" they received was likely more persuasive than the political points they had hoped to score.