Confusion reigns over whether Jimmy Kimmel will return to his late night talk show in the wake of his suspension by ABC on Tuesday evening.
One unnamed insider told The Wall Street Journal that Jimmy Kimmel Live! could be back within days.
But Sinclair - the TV conglomerate whose local stations pay to air Kimmels show - is playing hardball.
It plans to air a tribute to Kirk in place of Jimmy Kimmel Live! Friday and says it will not consider lifting its suspension until Kimmel makes a donation to Turning Point USA.
TPUSA is a conservative campus group founded by Kirk, who was murdered in Orem, Utah, on September 10.
Kimmel, who wrongly suggested assassination suspect Tyler Robinson may have had MAGA views, is a well-known liberal.
He has not commented publicly on his suspension, amid growing rumors hell refuse to return to ABC even if the option becomes available.
What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Charlie Kirk?
Jimmy Kimmel's nail in the coffin comment about Charlie Kirk's suspected killer came during his Monday night monologue.
'We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it,' the host said.
Jean Smart defends Kimmel
Jean Smart shared a photo from her appearance on Kimmel's show with the caption, 'I am horrified at the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live.'
The actress added, 'What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech. People seem to only want to protect free speech when it suits THEIR agenda. Though I didn’t agree at ALL with Charlie Kirk; his shooting death sickened me; and should have sickened any decent human being. What is happening to our country?'
Sophia Bush says 'Fascism is here'
Actress Sophia Bush slammed ABC's decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air on X.
'The First Amendment doesn’t exist in America anymore. Period. Fascism is here and it’s chilling,' she said.
A-listers rush to Jimmy Kimmel's defense
Stars have pushed back against the decision to take Kimmel off air, with Jamie Lee Curtis, Ben Stiller, Henry Winkler and Alison Brie joining the ranks in opposition.
