ABC to indefinitely stop airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! After the remarks the late-night host made in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing.
ABC has abruptly dropped Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its schedule, citing controversy over comments the host made following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The Walt Disney-owned network announced Wednesday that the show will be pre-empted indefinitely.
A spokesperson confirmed the move but offered no further details. The decision followed sharp criticism from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr, who suggested local stations could face scrutiny for continuing to air the program.
Shock Cancellation for Audience and Guests
The announcement came just as Wednesday’s audience was preparing to enter the Los Angeles studio.
“They waited until the crowd was lined up before pulling the plug,” said Tommy Williams, a would-be audience member from Jacksonville, Florida. He added, nothing was explained, and they just said the show was cancelled.
Actor-comedian Wanda Sykes, who had been scheduled to appear that evening, reacted in disbelief. “I’m sitting here in full makeup, ready for Jimmy’s show, and now it’s gone,” she said in a video posted to Instagram. “All because of pressure from the Trump administration.”
Nexstar and ABC Cut Ties
The cancellation followed a separate announcement from Nexstar Media Group, the nation’s largest local broadcaster. The company said it would no longer air Kimmel’s program across its 32 ABC affiliates.
“Kimmel’s comments about Mr. Kirk’s death were offensive and insensitive,” said Nexstar broadcasting president Andrew Alford. “At a critical moment in national discourse, his words fell short of community standards.”
Former President Donald Trump applauded the decision in a Truth Social post. “Congratulations to ABC for having the courage to do what had to be done,” he wrote. “Kimmel has zero talent, and his ratings are even worse than Colbert’s.” Trump went further, calling on NBC to remove Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers from the air as well.
Controversial Monologue Sparks Outrage
The uproar stemmed from Kimmel’s recent monologue addressing Kirk’s killing. He accused Trump supporters of trying to politicize the tragedy.
“The MAGA crowd is desperate to frame the killer as anything other than one of their own,” Kimmel said. He then criticized Trump’s handling of the mourning process, mocking a clip of the president speaking on the White House lawn. “This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish,” Kimmel joked.
The late-night host has not responded publicly to the controversy.
FCC commissioner Brendan Carr, seen speaking with Trump in November 2024 in Boca Chica, Texas, had urged local broadcasters to stop airing Kimmel's show and suggested the FCC could open an investigation and that broadcasters could potentially be fined or lose their licences if there was a pattern of distorted comments. (CBC News via The Associated Press)
Political and Public Reactions
The move to cancel the program drew swift condemnation from lawmakers and entertainers.
“America is meant to be a bastion of free speech,” said Senator Chuck Schumer in a statement. Actor Ben Stiller posted, “This isn’t right,” while California Governor Gavin Newsom accused Republicans of “censoring in real time.”
Carr, however, defended his call for stations to reconsider airing the program. “Disney needs to see change,” he said. “Broadcasters must decide whether this content truly serves their communities.”
FCC commissioner Anna Gomez pushed back, warning the government was “using its power to suppress lawful expression.”
Mounting Pressure on Late-Night Voices
Trump has repeatedly pressured networks to silence critics, often threatening lawsuits or license reviews. Carr, a Trump appointee, has echoed these concerns. He celebrated CBS’s cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in July, though the network attributed the move to financial reasons.
“Next up will be an even less talented Jimmy Kimmel,” Trump declared at the time.
With ABC’s decision, that prediction has now materialized, leaving the future of Jimmy Kimmel Live! uncertain.
