ABC has taken Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air indefinitely following several comments made by the host regarding the recent death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The decision came Wednesday, just days after Kimmel addressed the fatal shooting during his monologue on Monday night’s episode.
In his remarks, Kimmel pointed to political narratives surrounding the accused shooter, Tyler Robinson, and questioned attempts to distance the incident from Republican affiliations. Kimmel said, "The MAGA Gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it," amongst other comments. His comments sparked immediate backlash, particularly from conservative media figures and organizations. Nexstar Media Group, which owns more than 200 television stations affiliated with ABC, announced it would stop airing the show across its platforms “for the foreseeable future,” beginning the same night.
An ABC spokesperson later confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be preempted indefinitely.
FCC Response And Network Reactions
The decision by ABC followed public statements from Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission. Carr criticized Kimmel’s remarks and suggested there could be regulatory implications for Disney, which owns ABC. He emphasized that broadcast licenses come with responsibilities to serve the public interest and stated that further action might be considered if the network did not respond appropriately.
Nexstar echoed similar concerns. In a statement, the company said Kimmel’s comments were not reflective of the values or opinions of the communities its stations serve. Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, described the comments as “offensive and insensitive,” adding that the decision to pull the show was made to allow for a more respectful and constructive public dialogue.
Despite the show being pulled, Kimmel has not been fired. Discussions are expected between Disney and Kimmel about next steps and how the issue may be addressed if the show returns.
Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University on September 10. The investigation into his death is ongoing.
As of now, there is no set date for Jimmy Kimmel Live! to return to the air.
