Jimmy Kimmel Breaks Down in Tears as He Talks Erika Kirk in Opening Monologue: ‘A Very Beautiful Moment’

In a somber moment during his triumphant return to late-night, Jimmy Kimmel teared up as he recalled a “beautiful moment” over the weekend when Erika Kirk forgave the man accused of assassinating her husband, Charlie Kirk.

Kimmel’s highly anticipated opening monologue, his first since returning to the air Tuesday night, ranged from humorous to heartfelt, as the host poked at President Donald Trump and FCC boss Brendan Carr while thanking supporters.

In a particularly gripping moment, Kimmel got emotional as he spoke about Erika Kirk’s act of absolving Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing her husband on the Utah Valley University campus on Sept. 10.

There was a moment over the weekend, a very beautiful moment — I don’t know if you saw this on Sunday. Erika Kirk forgave the man who shot her husband. She forgave him. That is an example we should follow. If you believe in the teachings of Jesus as I do, there it was. That’s it. A selfless act of grace, forgiveness from a grieving widow. And it touched me deeply and I hope it touches many, and if there’s anything we should take from this tragedy to carry forward. I hope it would be that and not this. So thank you for listening and I’ll have more to say when we come back.

It was the second time of the night that Kimmel got emotional in his opening monologue. The first came as he explained he never intended to make light of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

I’ve been hearing a lot about what I need to say and do tonight, and the truth is, I don’t think what I have to say is going to make much of a difference if you like me, you like me, if you don’t, you don’t. I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind.

But I want to make something clear, because 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 — 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 — it was a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make, but to some, that felt ill timed or unclear or maybe both, and for those who think I did point a finger, I get why you’re upset.

Watch above via ABC.