Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air, and his opening monologue was filled with jokes and a touching moment about Erika Kirk.
The comedian opened his monologue with a lighthearted joke, taking a dig at Donald Trump and his recent comments about Tylenol and autism.
But the tone soon shifted as Kimmel became emotional discussing the tragic events surrounding Kirk’s murder.
Kimmel Opens With Humor, Then Shifts to Seriousness
"I'm not sure who had a weirder 48 hours — me, or the CEO of Tylenol," Kimmel quipped as he began his first show back.
His lightheartedness quickly turned to seriousness as he addressed the tragic death of Charlie Kirk, the conservative commentator killed on September 10.
"I’ve been hearing a lot about what I need to say and do tonight," Kimmel said, adding: "And the truth is, I don't think what I have to say is going to make much of a difference… I have no illusions about changing anyone's mind."
Kimmel went on to emphasize that "it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man," and he reiterated his genuine condolences to Kirk's family, noting he had posted a heartfelt message on Instagram after the news of the killing.
Kimmel Reflects on Kirk’s Widow’s Powerful Message of Forgiveness
In a tearful moment, Kimmel shared his admiration for Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, who spoke at her husband’s memorial service.
He praised her for the message of forgiveness she shared after the tragedy. "Erika Kirk forgave the man who shot her husband.
She forgave him," Kimmel said, visibly moved.
"That is an example we should follow.
"If you believe in the teachings of Jesus as I do, there it was.
"That's it. A selfless act of grace, forgiveness from a grieving widow."
Kimmel continued, explaining that her message "touched me deeply," and he hoped others would take this act of grace to heart.
"If there's anything we should take from this tragedy to carry forward, I hope it can be that and not this," he added.
Addressing the Backlash Over His Earlier Remarks
While reflecting on the controversy surrounding his comments about the suspect, Tyler Robinson, Kimmel was candid about the confusion his statements had caused.
"It’s important to me as a human," Kimmel said through tears, "that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.
"I don’t think there’s anything funny about it."
He also clarified that he didn’t intend to blame any specific group for Robinson's actions, a point he had made during his September 15 broadcast.
"I posted a message on Instagram the day he was killed, sending love to his family and asking for compassion, and I meant it and I still do," he said.
"Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make."
Kimmel acknowledged that some viewers might have interpreted his comments differently, admitting: "But I understand that to some that felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both.
"And for those who think I did point a finger… I get why you're upset.
"If the situation was reversed, there's a good chance I'd have felt the same way."