Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has been greeted with a standing ovation as he thanked those who stood up for his show, upon his return to screens.

Kimmel was taken off air due to comments about the shooting of right-wing speaker Charlie Kirk.

The star was met with a standing ovation and a chorus of “Jimmy” from the crowd.

“I’m not sure who had a weirder 48 hours, me or the CEO of Tylenol,” Kimmel started, before getting earnest and thanking his fanbase. 

“Thanks to those who supported this show, who cared enough to do something about it, to make your voices heard so that mine could be heard,” he said.

“I will never forget.

“And weirdly, maybe most of all, I want to thank the people who don’t support my show and what I believe in but support my right to share those beliefs anyway.” 

Kimmel — who suggested that the conservative pundit’s alleged killer may have been a MAGA Republican — caused uproar from Republicans and was “indefinitely” axed as a result last week. 

Referencing the statement, Kimmel broke into tears.

“It was never my intention to make light of a murder of a young man,” he said choking up.

“I don’t think there’s anything funny about it. 

“I posted a message on Instagram on the day he was killed sending love to his family and asking for compassion and I meant it and I still do.

“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 said he understood now the comments may have appeared “ill-timed” and added if they were reversed there was a  “good chance I’d felt the same way”. 

ABC affiliate Sinclair did not air Kimmel’s show on Tuesday and broadcast news programming instead.

“Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return,” the company said on Monday local time. 

Fellow affiliate Nexstar followed suite, meaning Kimmel’s return was not available to an estimated one-quarter of US households.

Trump’s cancellation backfires ‘bigly’ 

US President Donald Trump, who celebrated Kimmel’s pause, was in disbelief before the airing. 

“The White House was told by ABC that his Show [sic] was cancelled!” He wrote on Truth Social.

“I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do.”

Mr Trump mentioned his defamation lawsuit with ABC in which they agreed to give $US15 million ($23 million) to the president’s library after comments made by news anchor George Stephanopoulos.

“Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative,” he added.

Kimmel told his audience Mr Trump did “his best to cancel me” but that it “backfired bigly”. 

“Instead, he forced millions to watch this show … He might have to release the Epstein files to distract us from this now,” he said. 

Speaking of parent company Disney who faced boycotts in light of the decision, Kimmel said he was thankful they brought him back when “they really didn’t have to”. 

“Unfortunately, and i think unjustly, this puts them at risk,” he said. 

 “Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke.”

Support wide and far 

Kimmel’s comedian sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez posted in the hours before the show went on-air with a message responding to the backflip: “We are back full of love.” 

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Fellow late-night star, Stephen Colbert, whose show was axed in July, was one of the first to congratulate Kimmel on his return.  

“Now that Jimmy’s not being cancelled, I get to enjoy this again,” Colbert said, holding up his Emmy to his audience. 

“Once more, I am the only martyr in late-night!”

But, in reference to his cancellation, Colbert jokingly added, “Unless … CBS, you want to announce anything?”

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