ABC announced Wednesday that it was indefinitely suspending production of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in response to comments that late-night talk show host made in reference to the killing of fiery conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
A network spokesman confirmed the move to multiple trade publications. The action came shortly Nexstar Media Group issued a statement saying television stations it owns would not air the show in response to Kimmel’s remarks.
“Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located,” Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, said in a statement. “Continuing to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve is simply not in the public interest at the current time, and we have made the difficult decision to preempt his show in an effort to let cooler heads prevail as we move toward the resumption of respectful, constructive dialogue.”
During Monday night’s show, Kimmel addressed the assassination of Kirk and the reaction to it, saying, “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.”
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr lashed out at Kimmel on Wednesday, suggesting the agency would consider taking action against ABC affiliates that continued to air Kimmel’s show. Carr, appearing on a podcast, said affiliates should refuse to air Kimmel due to “the possibility of license revocation from the FCC.”
There was no immediate response from Kimmel, a frequent critic of President Donald Trump.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, another vocal Trump and Republican party critic, took to X to react to the news, writing, “Buying and controlling media platforms. Firing commentators. Canceling shows. These aren’t coincidences. It’s coordinated. And it’s dangerous. The @GOP does not believe in free speech. They are censoring you in real time.”
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot while speaking to students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The accused gunman, Tyler Robinson, 22, was charged Tuesday with murder, and prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty if he is convicted.