Hi there, everyone. It's 4 o'clock in New York. With humor and grace and arousing

defense of American values, Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air. In a late-night monologue for the

ages, Kimmel addressed the comments he made last week about the murder of conservative

activist Charlie Kirk, and then he took on an administration led by a president who tried to silence him

because Kimmel said things he didn't like. It's important to me as a human, and that is,

you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder

of a young man. I don't think there's anything funny about it. I posted a message on Instagram

on the day he was killed, love to his family and asking for compassion

and I meant it and I still do nor was it my attention to blame any specific group for the actions

of what it was obviously a deeply disturbed individual that was really the opposite of the point

I was trying to make but I understand that to some that felt either ill-timed or unclear or maybe both. And for those who think I did point a finger, I get why you're

upset. I've had the opportunity to meet and spend time with comedians and talk show hosts from

countries like Russia, countries in the Middle East, who tell me they would get thrown in prison

for making fun of those in power,

and worse than being thrown in prison.

They know how lucky we are here.

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

And that's something I'm embarrassed to say I took for granted until they pulled my friend Stephen off the air

and tried to coerce the affiliates who run our show in the cities

that you live in to take my show off the air. That's not legal. That's not American. That is

un-American. And it is so dangerous.

I want you to think about that.

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