Jimmy Kimmel returned to late-night television on Tuesday defending American political satire against ¡°bullying¡± by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, six days after his on-air comments about the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk led Walt Disney to suspend his show.

¡°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,¡± Kimmel told his audience, his voice choking with emotion.

¡°Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual ¡ª that was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make,¡± he added.