Jimmy Kimmel returns to air and defends free speech in monologue

Jimmy Kimmel returned to late-night television Tuesday after a nearly weeklong suspension from ABC.

Transcript

00:00It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.

00:04I don't think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone.

00:08This was a sick person who believed violence was a solution, and it isn't, ever.

00:14I've had the opportunity to meet and spend time with comedians and talk show hosts from

00:19countries like Russia, countries in the Middle East, who told me they would get thrown in prison

00:24for making fun of those in power, and worse than being thrown in prison.

00:28They know how lucky we are here.

00:30Our freedom to speak is what they admire most about this country.

00:34And that's something I'm embarrassed to say I took for granted until they pulled my friend

00:37Stephen off the air and tried to coerce the affiliates who run our show in the cities that

00:43you live in to take my show off the air.

00:45That's not legal.

00:46That's not American.

00:48That is un-American, and it is so dangerous.