On September 17 (US time), ABC announced the indefinite suspension of the program Jimmy Kimmel Live! after host Jimmy Kimmel made controversial comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! suspended after comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk
Host Jimmy Kimmel on an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! before being suspended indefinitely.
The decision was made just minutes after Nexstar, one of the largest affiliate networks, publicly criticized Jimmy Kimmel.
Jimmy Kimmel receives a wave of criticism
In a recent program, Jimmy Kimmel commented that the MAGA movement was trying to “whitewash” the perpetrator of the assassination of Charlie Kirk and “use the event to score political points.” The statement immediately received strong reactions.
According to CNN, shortly after Nexstar protested, ABC announced the nationwide suspension of the program Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Earlier, Nexstar said Jimmy Kimmel’s comments were “unacceptable on free-to-air television.”
Nexstar Media Group, which owns several ABC-affiliate television stations, said Kimmel’s comments were “inappropriate and disrespectful.”
Minutes later, ABC announced it would stop broadcasting Jimmy Kimmel Live! nationwide.
That same evening, Sinclair, another major media group, also announced it would stop broadcasting the show on all of its ABC-affiliated channels. Instead of Jimmy Kimmel’s usual time slot, Sinclair is scheduled to air a memorial program for Charlie Kirk on Friday night.
Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial comments about Charlie Kirk on Jimmy Kimmel Live! – Source:
Sinclair even made a tough request: Kimmel must directly apologize to the Kirk family and make a “meaningful” donation to the family and the organization Turning Point USA. During Kimmel’s time slot, Sinclair said it would air a special tribute to Charlie Kirk.
“ABC’s suspension is not enough,” Sinclair said in a statement. “We will not re-air Jimmy Kimmel Live! until there is a clear commitment to professionalism and responsibility.”
“Jimmy Kimmel Live will be postponed indefinitely,” an ABC spokesperson said, declining to share further details.
A representative for Kimmel did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what needed to be done,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Regulatory Role and Legal Controversy
The matter quickly drew the attention of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, appointed by President Donald Trump, said the broadcasters’ decision represented “an important turning point.”
“It is unprecedented for local stations to tell a national producer like Disney that the content is no longer appropriate for their community,” he stressed.
ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel’s show indefinitely
In addition, the Center for American Rights also filed a complaint with the FCC on September 17, asserting that “comedy or satire cannot be used as a defense.” The organization demanded that ABC and its parent company Disney be held accountable for distributing content that “does not meet public interest standards.”
This development further raises concerns about political interference in American television.
Free speech groups warn that if regulators or media corporations use pressure to control content, it could set a dangerous precedent for other programs.
Meanwhile, Charlie Kirk’s supporters said the suspension was necessary to “maintain media standards in times of grief”.