ABC Suspends Jimmy Kimmel Show Over Charlie Kirk Remarks

ABC has pulled 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' off the air indefinitely after the host’s remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk ignited a political backlash and threats from regulators. The Disney-owned network confirmed the suspension on Wednesday, saying the show “will be pre-empted indefinitely.” The move followed comments Kimmel made in his monologue earlier this week, accusing the “MAGA gang” of exploiting Kirk’s killing for political gain.

He mocked flags flown at half-mast and ridiculed Donald Trump’s response, saying, “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.” Kirk, 31, was shot and killed while speaking at a Utah university. A 22-year-old man has been charged with aggravated murder, though investigators have not established a motive. On the day of the shooting, Kimmel posted condolences on Instagram, but his on-air remarks days later drew immediate fire.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, blasted Kimmel’s comments as “the sickest conduct possible” and urged stations to drop the show, warning they could face investigations or licence challenges. Nexstar Media Group, which owns 32 ABC affiliates, was the first to pull the plug, saying Kimmel’s remarks were “offensive and insensitive at a critical time.” Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest ABC affiliate owner, soon followed, announcing it would air a Kirk tribute in his time slot. Trump celebrated the decision, calling it “great news for America” and mocking the show as “ratings-challenged.”

Hollywood and labour unions rallied behind Kimmel. Ben Stiller, Jean Smart, Jamie Lee Curtis, Alison Brie, John Legend, and Josh Gad all voiced support. “What Jimmy said was free speech, not hate speech,” Smart wrote on Instagram. The Writers Guild of America condemned the suspension as a violation of constitutional rights, while SAG-AFTRA warned it was “suppression and retaliation that endangers everyone’s freedoms.”

Kimmel himself has not commented publicly. A source told CNBC he has not been fired, but that ABC executives plan to meet with him about how he will address the controversy if the show returns. The suspension comes amid growing turbulence in late-night TV. CBS announced in July that 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' would end next year after 11 seasons, while both CBS and ABC have recently paid multimillion-dollar settlements to Trump in separate defamation cases.