Jimmy Kimmel made a strong return to his late-night show on ABC, drawing a huge audience despite some stations refusing to air it. Tuesday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! was watched by over 6.2 million people on TV, nearly four times more than usual.
The show’s biggest boost came from YouTube, where Kimmel’s 28-minute monologue about free speech reached over 19 million views and counting, making it his most-watched monologue ever on the platform. This surge in viewers happened even as about 23% of ABC stations, owned by Nexstar and Sinclair, boycotted the show.
Kimmel’s return was welcomed with a standing ovation from the live audience, and his monologue addressed the recent controversy over his suspension, which actually helped increase interest and viewership.
Overall, Kimmel’s comeback proved that attempts to silence him only amplified his voice, drawing tens of millions of viewers across all platforms.