Jimmy Kimmel Live was suspended from air by Disney-owned ABC for an indefinite period of time after the host made remarks about Charlie Kirk’s alleged murderer.
A spokesperson for ABC said, “Jimmy Kimmel Live will be preempted indefinitely,” declining to provide additional information.
Tyler Robinson, 22, is facing murder charges in Kirk’s death. Kirk was allegedly shot and killed by Robinson on September 10 while the conservative activist was giving a speech at Utah Valley University. After a two-day manhunt, Robinson finally gave himself.
What Kimmel said that caused conservatives to be outraged, as well as what ABC and other outlets have said since:
What transpired?
Kimmel, a vocal critic of US President Donald Trump, accused “the MAGA gang” of trying to “score political points” from Kirk’s murder in his opening monologue on Monday, claiming they were quick to place the blame on the left before finding out much about the shooter’s motivations. The right-wing political movement that makes up Trump’s base is known as “Make America Great Again.”
Kimmel claimed on his show that the MAGA gang is “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and using every means they can to gain political points from it.” He continued, “There was grieving between the finger-pointing.”
He criticized Trump’s response to the shooting as well.
An adult grieves the death of a friend, he says. A four-year-old mourns a goldfish in this manner, Kimmel continued.
Conservatives were offended by the remarks, which the Trump administration responded with.
Jimmy Kimmel is suspended for allegedly causing the homeless, but Brian Kilmeade is still at work. pic. twitter.com/now6OJqQ8r
Heidi Zhou-Castro, a reporter for Al Jazeera, reported on Monday that Kimmel made the claim that the suspected shooter of Charlie Kirk was a “Trump Republican.” Kimmel also claimed that Kimmel spoke before authorities released texts that showed the suspected killer was actually politically opposed to Kirk.
Robinson was detained the following day and charged with aggravated murder. Although a precise motive is still unknown, prosecutors have cited his relatives’ statements in court documents that they had heard Kirk had veered left politically in recent years and that he had been filled with hate.
After Kirk’s murder, Robinson wrote to his flatmate and romantic partner, saying, “I had enough of his hatred.” Then he continued, “Some hate can’t be negotiated out,” in a separate message.
Kimmel, however, brought up the subject on Tuesday night when he claimed Trump had “fanning the flames” by attacking left-leaning people. Left-wing organizations are accused of ratcheting up hate against conservatives by the Trump administration, and it has stated that it will do so. Trump also stated on Wednesday that he intended to label the left-wing political movement Antifa a “terrorist” organization.
Benny Johnson, a right-wing podcaster, received a message from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr on Wednesday that he had a compelling argument against suing Kimmel, ABC, and Disney. The ABC and its affiliates are the ones who are tasked with granting licenses to broadcasters.
Carr stated, “This is a very, very serious issue for Disney at this time.” They are required to operate in the public interest as a result of a license granted by the FCC.
Kimmel had planned to address the criticism on his show on Wednesday and practice it that morning, according to a Bloomberg report citing sources.
Carr also urged local television station owners to “push back.”
What caused the fallout?
The owner of several ABC affiliates, Nexstar, made an appearance that followed that announcement, announcing the removal of Jimmy Kimmel Live from its affiliates even before ABC itself confirmed the suspension.
The organization announced on Wednesday that it would stop broadcasting the program “for the foreseeable future, starting with tonight’s show.”
At a crucial moment in our nation’s political discourse, Kimmel’s comments about Kirk were “offensive and insensitive,” Nexstar continued.
Carr thanked Nexstar for “doing the right thing,” and expressed her support for their decision.
For its $6.2 billion acquisition of smaller rival Tegna, Nexstar, which claims to be the nation’s largest local television and media company, needs FCC approval.
I want to thank Nexstar for making the right decision.
Local broadcasters are required to protect the public’s interest. Although this is a unique decision, it is crucial for broadcasters to reject Disney programming that they believe is unwelcoming.
What did Trump say in response?
Soon after ABC revealed Kimmel had been suspended, Trump called it “great news for America.”
The Jimmy Kimmel Show has been cancelled due to its controversy. Congratulations to ABC on finally demonstrating the courage to carry out its mission,” Trump said.
He then criticized Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, both of whom he described as “two total losers” on Fake News NBC, for their behavior. Their reviews are also awful.
American citizens who mocked the assassination were urged by US Vice President JD Vance earlier this week to turn in their own citizens.
Trump remarked in July that he “loves that Colbert got fired. Even his ratings for talent were subpar. Jimmy Kimmel is reportedly coming up next. has a lower talent than Colbert”!
Two senators questioned whether politics were at play when the “Late Show” was pulled due to financial reasons, but the timing, three days after Colbert criticized a settlement between Trump and CBS parent company Paramount, made it happen.
The Jimmy Kimmel Show, which has received mixed reviews, has been cancelled. Congratulations to ABC for finally spouting the courage to carry out their plan. https://twitter.com/Vhj6DQSssu
Jimmy Kimmel, who is he?
Jimmy Kimmel is one of late-night television’s most recognizable faces in the country. One of the longest-serving talk show hosts still on air is Jimmy Kimmel Live, which he has hosted on ABC since 2003.
Before making his television debut, Kimmel began his radio career by hosting shows in Seattle, Tampa, and Tucson before moving to Los Angeles to start a TV career.
Kimmel has gained notoriety for his monologues, celebrity interviews, and popular comedy segments over the years. In recent years, he has also gained a more political bent, frequently voicing his opinions on social issues.
Kimmel has also hosted big-time live events like the Oscars and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, which earned him an Emmy.
Kimmel has reportedly reduced his workload over the past few years, frequently taking off during the summer. His ABC contract is set to expire in less than a year, which raises the question of whether he will continue to work for ABC or decide to quit after 20 years.
After two decades at ABC, he joked, “I’m looking forward to three years of what they call “quiet quitting.”” when his contract extension was announced.
What was his show’s popularity?
Late-night viewers have been moving away from streaming services and social media, as opposed to the majority of traditional television.
During the broadcast season that ended in May, Jimmy Kimmel Live averaged 1.57 million viewers per episode, according to Nielsen, a media audience measurement company in the United States.
The field was dominated by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert during the same time, with an average of 1.9 million viewers.
According to audience data for the time frame ending August 31, 2025, Jimmy Kimmel Live attracted about 1.1 million viewers per episode, which is a 0.35 percent rating, down 11 percent from the previous month.
Source: Aljazeera
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