ABC Suspends Jimmy Kimmel Show Over Kirk Remarks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ ABC has indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the host’s remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination sparked outrage. Nexstar pulled the show from affiliates, while FCC Chairman Brendan Carr suggested possible regulatory consequences. President Trump praised the move, while critics warned of government pressure on free speech.
Jimmy Kimmel Suspension Quick Looks
- ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely after remarks on Kirk’s death.
- Nexstar, with 23 ABC affiliates, pulled the show.
- FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called Kimmel’s words “sick” and hinted at penalties.
- President Donald Trump praised ABC’s decision on Truth Social.
- Kimmel suggested the shooter might have been pro-Trump.
- Authorities say suspect Tyler Robinson leaned left politically in recent years.
- Both Disney (ABC’s parent) and Nexstar have major FCC approvals pending.
- Critics warn of political pressure on media freedom.
- FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez and rights groups condemned the suspension.
- Kimmel mocked Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel, and VP JD Vance.
- Audience at Hollywood studio told the show was canceled last-minute.
- Trump previously cheered Stephen Colbert’s cancellation; now celebrated Kimmel’s.
Deep Look
ABC Suspends Jimmy Kimmel After Controversial Remarks on Charlie Kirk’s Killing
NEW YORK — ABC has suspended late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel after his remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk triggered a backlash from affiliates, regulators, and the White House. The move halts Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the first time in its 22-year run.
The decision came after Nexstar Communications Group, which operates 23 ABC affiliates, announced it would no longer carry the program.
Nexstar Broadcasting President Andrew Alford said Kimmel’s comments were “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse.”
Kimmel has not publicly commented. His contract with ABC runs through May 2026.
The Monologues That Sparked Controversy
On his Monday night show, Kimmel suggested that Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, could have been a Trump supporter.
“The MAGA Gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,” Kimmel said, accusing conservatives of politicizing the tragedy.
Authorities, however, say Robinson had turned politically left in recent years and supported LGBTQ rights. Court documents show he confessed to his partner that he targeted Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred.”
Kimmel followed up on Tuesday, mocking Vice President JD Vance’s guest-hosting of Kirk’s podcast and accusing Trump of “fanning the flames” by exploiting the killing.
FCC Warning and Trump’s Response
The controversy escalated after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr condemned Kimmel’s remarks, calling them “truly sick” and threatening regulatory action.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said on the Benny Johnson Podcast. “These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
President Donald Trump celebrated the suspension on Truth Social:
“Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.”
Business Stakes for Disney and Nexstar
Both Disney, ABC’s parent company, and Nexstar have major deals pending before the FCC:
- Disney is seeking approval for ESPN’s acquisition of the NFL Network.
- Nexstar needs clearance for its $6.2 billion purchase of Tegna.
Analysts note that suspending Kimmel may smooth relations with the Trump administration, which has been openly hostile toward critics in media and entertainment.
This is not the first time late-night hosts have faced political backlash. Earlier this year, CBS announced the upcoming cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show, a move Trump celebrated.
Criticism of Government Pressure
Civil liberties advocates warned that the suspension reflects government coercion.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez criticized the administration’s involvement, while Ari Cohn of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression accused the government of using “extortion and retribution” to silence dissent.
“We cannot be a country where late-night talk show hosts serve at the pleasure of the president,” Cohn said.
Audience Left Waiting
Outside Kimmel’s Hollywood studio, ticket holders were told the show had been canceled just minutes before they were set to enter.
“We were just about to walk in, and they pulled the plug,” said Tommy Williams from Jacksonville, Florida. “They didn’t explain why, just that the show was canceled.”
Kimmel was later spotted leaving the theater quietly, wearing a black hat and plaid shirt, as cameras followed him into a waiting vehicle.
Pattern of Late-Night Scrutiny
Kimmel has long been one of Trump’s harshest comedic critics. In his latest monologues, he accused Trump of grieving Kirk “like a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish” and ridiculed FBI Director Kash Patel for mishandling the investigation.
With Colbert gone next year and Kimmel’s future uncertain, observers say late-night television could be facing its most dramatic political reshaping in decades.
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