ABC Suspends ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Indefinitely After Kirk Remarks

ABC announced Wednesday that it has suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely following controversial comments made by host Jimmy Kimmel regarding the recent killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The Comments That Sparked Outrage

Kimmel addressed Kirk’s fatal shooting during his opening monologue, suggesting that supporters of the MAGA movement were attempting to distance themselves from the alleged killer and exploit the tragedy for political gain. He said, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with 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”.

Affiliate and Regulatory Pressure

Following Kimmel’s remarks, Nexstar Media Group—one of the largest owners of ABC affiliates—announced it would preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” across its stations, citing the need for sensitivity and constructive national dialogue. Nexstar’s president, Andrew Alford, stated that Kimmel’s comments were “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse” and noted that the show no longer reflected the communities Nexstar serves.

The pressure intensified after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr publicly condemned Kimmel’s monologue and urged local affiliates to stop airing the program, even suggesting that continued broadcast could risk their FCC licenses.

ABC’s Decision and Uncertain Future

A spokesperson for ABC confirmed that Kimmel’s show would be “preempted indefinitely,” declining to specify when or if the late-night program might return. As of now, Jimmy Kimmel and his representatives have not commented publicly on the suspension. Industry experts and media analysts note that this move raises questions not only about network standards but also about free speech, affiliate power, and the potential impact of political and regulatory involvement in television programming.

This story continues to develop as ABC, affiliates, and federal regulators respond to the controversy and the future of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” remains uncertain.