Kimmel Suspended, Returns Strong After Trump Backlash

0:00It's April 28, this is Canada News today, your AI-powered local news. Jimmy Kimmel caught heat for a joke on his ABC late-night show last Thursday, parodying the White House correspondent's dinner where he quipped that. Melania Trump had a glow like an expectant widow. Hours later, a shooting broke out at the actual dinner Saturday at the Washington Hilton, with suspect Cole Allen firing as Secret Service agents and wounding one before getting arrested. President Trump and Melania blasted the comedian, with the president demanding ABC and Disney fire Kimmel immediately. The Trumps claimed the joke was corrosive and went too far, especially after the scary incident that rushed them out of the event. Kimmel pushed back hard, saying his words three days before the dinner had zero impact on the shooter, and Court Doc show Allen booked his hotel on. April 6, and traveled from California well before the monologue aired. Folks reacted big time. Melania posted on X calling for ABC to stand up against Kimmel's behavior,

1:01while Trump labeled it beyond the pale. Celebs, like Tom Hanks, Barbara Streisand, and Jennifer Aniston, signed a letter slamming any suspension as a blow to free speech and even Barack Obama. Called out the administration's media threats, protests hit outside Disney Studios with Senator Elizabeth Warren decrying in his federal overreach. Kimmel got suspended briefly but came back strong, pulling 6.26 million viewers despite missing 23% of households, and his opening monologue smashed 20 million YouTube views, a personal record. He apologized if the joke landed wrong, but stood by his return, tripping victims along the way. Trump kept the pressure on, musing about suing ABC again after a past $16 million settlement, but weeks later, Kimmel locked into one year. Contract extension through May 20, 27, keeping the late-night wars alive.