Digital views surged after American host Jimmy Kimmel’s first on-air appearance following his temporary suspension, as his show Jimmy Kimmel Live recorded around 19 million views on YouTube and Instagram early Wednesday.

Views reached 13.3 million on YouTube and 5.6 million on Instagram by 1:30 PM Eastern Time, while the episode was not yet broadcast on ABC after the parent company, Walt Disney, lifted the suspension.

Kimmel returned six days after comments he made about the accused killer of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, which sparked widespread outrage on social media and pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

Before the episode aired, Trump expressed his displeasure on his platform, Truth Social: "I can’t believe ABC reinstated Jimmy Kimmel to his job," calling him "a Democratic arm" and an "illegal election contribution." Trump added: "I think we will test ABC on this matter. Last time I sued them, they paid me $16 million. Seems more profitable this time."

Severe Criticism

Meanwhile, Disney faced heavy criticism for suspending the show, with many seeing it as a weak response to what they called "government bullying." In a statement issued last Monday, the company explained that the suspension was an attempt "to avoid inflaming a tense situation during an emotional moment in the country," acknowledging that Kimmel’s remarks were "poorly timed and lacked sensitivity," and stating that the show would return after "deep conversations with Jimmy."

Episode Atmosphere and Return to Air

Kimmel appeared on his show Tuesday evening, nearly in tears, asserting that he did not intend to joke about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, emphasizing that any attempt to silence a comedian is "against American values."

Roots of the Political and Media Controversy

The controversy began last week when Kimmel’s comments about Trump’s pro-MAGA group sparked widespread anger, escalating to official intervention from the Federal Communications Commission. This led Nexstar and Sinclair, which own dozens of local stations, to block the broadcast of his show on their networks, intensifying pressure on Disney to suspend the program nationwide.

The sudden absence of the show angered liberal circles, who saw Kimmel as targeted for his repeated satire of Trump, while some conservatives, such as Senator Ted Cruz and host Tucker Carlson, expressed concern, calling the move a dangerous precedent for restricting free speech.