The late-night host wanted to address the firestorm over his remarks about Charlie Kirk’s killing on Wednesday’s show. Company leaders worried it would make matters worse.

His contract is up at the end of his current season, taking him through May 2026. For years, Kimmel — who has also hosted the Oscars for ABC and just won an Emmy for hosting the network’s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” — has contended with whether to continue his show, most recently debating whether to renew his contract in 2022.