By Srijita Chakraborty
ABC has announced the indefinite suspension of the late-night program Jimmy Kimmel Live! as a consequence of Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial remarks about the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
On Wednesday, the Walt Disney-owned network announced that the show would be “preempted indefinitely,” followed by Kimmel’s implication that Tyler Robinson, the man charged with Kirk’s murder in Utah last week, was a supporter of former President Donald Trump. Prosecutors have charged Robinson with murder and are demanding the death penalty, though investigators have not confirmed a political motive.
The backlash was prompt. Nexstar Media Group, which operates 28 ABC affiliates, withdrew the program earlier this week, calling Kimmel’s comments “offensive and insensitive.” Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), also condemned the remarks, warning affiliates that broadcasting the show could jeopardize their licenses under the FCC’s “public interest” obligations.
Kimmel, who has been hosting late-night television for more than two decades, has continued to address the fallout on air, criticizing Trump’s response to Kirk’s death and mocking Vice President JD Vance’s appearance on Kirk’s podcast. Nevertheless, there was severe retaliation over his tone from conservatives who accused him of politicizing the murder.
The controversy reflects the debate over free speech versus media responsibility in the U.S. since Kirk’s death. Several journalists, academics, and professionals have also been fired or are facing investigations for remarks on Kirk, who was both celebrated for his Christian nationalist views and criticized for his divisive stance on immigration and Islam.
The indefinite suspension is one of the boldest actions taken in late-night television in recent years, reflecting the growing influence of political pressure on media networks.