Jennifer Aniston Finally Breaks Silence On Return Of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'

Jennifer Aniston has joined the growing number of celebrities cheering for Jimmy Kimmel's return to his beloved late-night talk show! 

The "Friends" star echoed her support for the host's spectacular comeback on Tuesday, September 23, after he was "indefinitely suspended." The actress shared her love through social media following her efforts to ensure Kimmel's return to his show.

Jimmy Kimmel faced the threat of losing his spot on TV after making controversial comments about Charlie Kirk's shooter. He was subsequently suspended for his actions, causing President Donald Trump and other critics to celebrate what they thought would be the end of his career.

Aniston showcased her support for Kimmel on her Instagram Story by reposting an image of him walking through a doorway backstage. A red illuminated sign above the door read "ON AIR," with the host looking dapper in a white collared shirt, dark trousers, and a striped tie.

The actress did not pen a lengthy caption but expressed love for Kimmel's return with a red heart emoji. Aniston's touching post follows The Blast's report of claims that her team wanted to keep her out of the talk show host's drama.

A source shared the story, alleging that Aniston's team stopped her from addressing Kimmel's suspension, despite their years-long friendship. Her reps reportedly advised her to stay silent rather than support Kimmel publicly to avoid backlash.

Aniston wasn't the type to hold back from voicing her thoughts regarding her loved ones, and Kimmel fell into the category of people she cared about. They had a years-long bond that reportedly began in 2012 when the talk show host invited her and her then-partner, Justin Theroux, to his home.

Kimmel's wife, Molly McNearney, recalled that their first meeting was surreal thanks to Aniston's warm and welcoming personality. She noted the actress pulled her in for a hug when they met, sparking an instant connection that eventually blossomed into a years-long friendship.

Aniston and Kimmel's bond grew stronger in 2015 when he officiated her union to Theroux, whom she separated from in 2017. When Aniston and Kimmel weren't meeting up for their annual Friendsgiving ceremony, they sometimes vacationed together.

Besides showcasing her support for Kimmel on social media, Aniston joined several entertainers, including Robert De Niro, to stand against the talk show host's suspension. The Daily Mail covered the story, reporting that they signed an ACLU open letter.

These A-listers slammed Kimmel's removal from his show, stressing that his suspension was a "dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation." Other stars penned their support underneath the recent "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Instagram posts.

The list of celebrities in Kimmel's corner included Jamie Foxx, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Colbert, Melanie Griffith, and Dave Bautista. He also received a fantastic show of solidarity from singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, who dropped out of a Disney event to condemn his suspension.

Although ABC announced that "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" would return on Tuesday night, broadcasting companies Sinclair and Nexstar stood firm and refused to air the show on their ABC affiliate stations. Nonetheless, Kimmel marked his comeback with an emotional monologue.

The TV personality fought back tears as he addressed the comments that nearly got him kicked off air permanently, stressing that he never disregarded the severity of Kirk's death. Kimmel noted he understood why many were upset, but he did not mean any harm.

As for Trump, who proudly celebrated his suspension on his Truth Social platform, Kimmel slammed his uncouth behavior. "Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can't take a joke," he said, adding that fans should continue fighting against injustice.

Before Kimmel shared his heartfelt monologue, The Blast shared that his team was allegedly concerned about the stance he would take. A source claimed backstage had erupted into "chaos" as staff members had been left out of the decision-making process and did not know what to expect on Tuesday night. 

The tensions skyrocketed because executive producers reportedly ordered a gag order, stopping staff from learning the contents of Kimmel's monologue before he went on air. The source claimed many hoped the host would not apologize and threatened to walk out if he did.

"If he grovels or falls on his sword, that's actually a betrayal to all of us. We were all in agreement about the things he said. If he walks them back, it would invalidate everything," the source stressed. Since Kimmel did not apologize, there was no cause for concern.

Will the suspension drama make Jimmy Kimmel more mindful of his words?