Disney’s ABC pulled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air indefinitely on Wednesday. This decision followed backlash over the late-night host’s comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and pressure from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr.
The move came just hours after Carr threatened to revoke ABC affiliate licenses due to Kimmel’s Monday night monologue. In that segment, the comedian criticized how Republicans responded to Kirk’s shooting death at Utah Valley University on September 10.
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to paint this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything to gain political points from it,” Kimmel said during his Monday show.
Carr appeared on conservative podcaster Benny Johnson’s show on Wednesday. He called Kimmel’s remarks “the sickest conduct possible” and suggested that the FCC might revoke licenses from stations that continued airing the show. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr stated. “These companies can choose to adjust Kimmel’s show, or the FCC will have more work ahead.”
Before ABC made its announcement, Nexstar Media Group, which runs 32 ABC affiliate stations and is seeking FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna, said it would preempt Kimmel’s show for the foreseeable future. Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, found Kimmel’s comments “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse.”
Sinclair Broadcast Group followed Nexstar’s lead, announcing it would also halt the show on its ABC affiliates. Instead, it plans to air a tribute to Charlie Kirk in Kimmel’s timeslot on Friday night. Sinclair stated that Kimmel’s suspension “is not enough” and called for the host to apologize to Kirk’s family and make a donation to Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot by Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from Utah, while he spoke at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University. Robinson was arrested on Friday and charged with aggravated murder. Prosecutors indicated they intend to seek the death penalty. Text messages revealed by prosecutors showed that Robinson told his roommate, “I had enough of his hatred,” after the shooting.
President Donald Trump praised ABC’s decision on Truth Social, stating, “Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.”
This cancellation is another setback for late-night television. It comes just two months after CBS announced it would end “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” citing financial reasons. Kimmel has often criticized Trump throughout his career, and the president has targeted him in the past.
Several media figures have faced consequences due to comments about Kirk’s death. MSNBC fired political analyst Matthew Dowd last week for remarks he made on-air about the shooting. Additionally, The Washington Post terminated opinion columnist Karen Attiah for comments regarding racial double standards in social media reactions to Kirk’s death.
Free speech advocates condemned ABC’s decision. “The government pressured ABC and ABC caved,” stated Ari Cohn of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. “We cannot be a country where late-night talk show hosts serve at the pleasure of the president.”
SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, also criticized the suspension. They stated, “The suppression of free speech and retaliation for speaking out on important public issues go against the fundamental rights we all rely on.”
Kimmel’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment. The comedian has hosted “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” since 2003 and had previously expressed support for Kirk’s family on social media. He wrote, “On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents, and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.”
