Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been yanked off the air indefinitely after the host made controversial remarks about the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
What did Jimmy Kimmel say?
On Monday, Kimmel 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 with everything they can to score political points from it.” Watch the video below.
ABC and Affiliates Take Action
ABC confirmed to Deadline that the late-night show will be “preempted indefinitely.”
“Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely,” a Disney spokesperson also confirmed to Fox News.
Nexstar, which owns 32 ABC affiliates across the country, also announced that it would stop airing Kimmel’s program immediately, citing strong objections to his commentary on Kirk’s killing.
Sinclair Broadcasting, the largest ABC affiliate group, followed suit, revealing it will air “a special in remembrance of Charlie Kirk” instead. Sinclair leadership demanded that Kimmel issue a direct apology to the Kirk family and make a personal donation to Turning Point USA before his show could ever return to its airwaves.
Due to problematic comments regarding the murder of Charlie Kirk in programming provided to broadcast stations by ABC, Sinclair and its partners, which operate ABC stations in 30 markets in the U.S., will stop airing Jimmy Kimmel’s show until further notice.
— Sinclair, Inc. (@WeAreSinclair) September 17, 2025
— Sinclair, Inc. (@WeAreSinclair) September 18, 2025
FCC Chairman Blasts Kimmel
The suspension follows remarks from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who described Kimmel’s comments as “some of the sickest conduct possible.”
Carr warned that regulatory action could be taken if networks fail to hold talent accountable, saying broadcasters “must serve the interests of their communities.”
Trump Reacts
Former President Donald Trump celebrated the news on Truth Social:
“Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT”
The White House echoed the sentiment, calling Kimmel “a sick freak” and praising ABC’s decision.
"Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to @ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done…" – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/Vhj6DQSssu
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 18, 2025
They’re doing their viewers a favor.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 17, 2025
Jimmy is a sick freak! pic.twitter.com/9QaetwiKfz
Disney Faces Pressure
Reports indicate Disney executives grew concerned after Kimmel allegedly told the network he planned to address his Charlie Kirk comments again during Monday’s opening monologue.
According to THR, Kimmel planned to address his remarks and explain how they were taken out of context, but he was not planning on apologizing. The site added that Kimmel felt what he said did not require an apology.
That plan reportedly triggered Disney’s move to pull the plug before the show could even tape.
Future of Kimmel Uncertain
It remains unclear whether Jimmy Kimmel will return to late-night television. Industry insiders via Deadline suggest this could mark a fundamental shift in broadcast television, given Disney’s decision to sideline one of its longest-running late-night personalities.
Kimmel’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism amid national mourning for Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated earlier this month while speaking at Utah Valley University.
Tyler Robinson: Leftist in a relationship with man transitioning to transgender female
Authorities confirmed that Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect charged with assassinating Charlie Kirk, was living with a male partner who is transitioning to a transgender female. FBI sources say the partner has been cooperating with investigators and provided communications that helped confirm Robinson’s role in the shooting. Reports also note the partner’s involvement in the furry community, which has added further controversy to the case.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Sunday that Robinson was a “very normal young man” who later developed a “leftist ideology” after appearing to become increasingly radicalized in recent years.
Watch the video:
Broader Fallout Across Entertainment and Media
The fallout from Charlie Kirk’s assassination continues to ripple through entertainment and media.
Figures such as Star Trek actor Tim Russ, Michael Keaton, and Ava Raine, daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, have drawn criticism for their remarks. On the gaming side, companies including Bethesda, Blizzard, Epic Games, and SEGA have faced backlash after developers and artists mocked Kirk’s death online. In comics, DC dropped Gretchen Felker-Martin’s Red Hood series after her inflammatory remarks, while Stephen King issued an apology and faced box office backlash following false claims about Kirk.
