Jimmy Kimmel Live! Suspended After Controversial Remarks on Charlie Kirk

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  Newsroom

• September 18, 2025

• Newsroom

Jimmy Kimmel Live! Suspended After Controversial Remarks on Charlie Kirk

The ABC network, owned by Disney, has suspended its long-running late-night program Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely after host Jimmy Kimmel made controversial remarks regarding the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. The decision disrupts ABC’s primetime schedule nationwide, with the program pulled from affiliates starting today.

The Incident

During his Monday night monologue, Kimmel criticized the political reaction to Kirk’s death and mocked tributes paid to the conservative activist. He stated:

“The MAGA gang is desperately trying to characterize the kid who killed Charlie Kirk as something other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points with it.”

Kimmel also ridiculed former President Donald Trump’s reaction to the attack, drawing swift backlash from major broadcast groups.

Immediate Fallout

Broadcast giants Nexstar and Sinclair both announced they would no longer air Jimmy Kimmel Live! “for the foreseeable future.”

Andrew Alford, President of Nexstar’s Broadcast Division, described Kimmel’s remarks as “offensive and insensitive at a critical moment in our national political discourse,” adding:

“We do not believe his comments reflect the spectrum of opinions, perspectives, or values of the local communities we serve.”

Political and Regulatory Reactions

The suspension quickly escalated into a national debate:

• President Donald Trump celebrated the move on social media, calling it “great news for America” and adding: “The Jimmy Kimmel Show, with ratings under pressure, has been CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally doing what needed to be done.”

• Brendan Carr, an FCC Commissioner appointed by Trump, denounced Kimmel’s behavior as “the most depraved conduct imaginable” and urged Disney to take further action, stating: “Broadcast licenses come with a responsibility to operate in the public interest.”

• Anna Gomez, the only Democratic commissioner at the FCC, pushed back, saying: “An indefensible act of political violence by a disturbed individual should never be exploited as justification for censorship or broader media control."

Hollywood and Public Backlash

The suspension has sparked an outcry in Hollywood:

• The Writers Guild of America (WGA) condemned ABC’s decision as a violation of free expression.

• The SAG-AFTRA union labeled it “repression and retaliation that put everyone’s freedoms at risk.”

Actors and celebrities voiced support for Kimmel:

• Ben Stiller wrote on X: “This isn’t right.”

• Kristen Bell said she was “horrified” by the cancellation, noting: “What Jimmy said was free speech, not hate speech.”

• Jamie Lee Curtis shared a statement from Kimmel himself: “I don’t believe anyone should be cancelled, I really don’t.”

• Alison Brie described the situation as “surreal and very frightening.”

Some members of the public expressed frustration. A tourist in line for the show told the BBC: “This is getting ridiculous. He shared his opinion and is being cancelled. To me, that’s bizarre.” Small protests were also staged outside the studio, with demonstrators carrying signs such as “Trump must go now.”

The Program’s Legacy

On the air since 2003, Jimmy Kimmel Live! is the second-longest running late-night talk show with the same host in U.S. television history, behind The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Despite its title, the program is pre-recorded.

Sources close to the matter told CNBC that Kimmel has not been fired, and ABC executives intend to meet with him to discuss how he should address the controversy upon his return. In the meantime, Sinclair has announced a special tribute program to Charlie Kirk will air on Friday (September 19) in Kimmel’s time slot.

Industry Context

The controversy comes at a delicate time for the industry:

• Nexstar is seeking FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna.

• Earlier this year, CBS announced it will end The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2026 after 11 seasons, following a $16 million settlement with Trump.

• ABC itself paid $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit filed by Trump against anchor George Stephanopoulos.

The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! highlights the growing tension between freedom of expression, political pressure, and corporate responsibility in the U.S. media landscape. While critics denounce the move as censorship, supporters argue that broadcasters must reflect community values and maintain sensitivity in times of political violence.