Jimmy Kimmel
Charlie KirkDisneyEntertainmentPolitics

ABC Pulls ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Indefinitely After Host’s Charlie Kirk Commentary

RNN Staff

Disney-owned ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live from the air “indefinitely” following fierce backlash to comments the comedian made about the assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk.

The decision comes after Monday’s episode in which Kimmel appeared to mock efforts by conservatives to identify the shooter’s political leanings. “The MAGA gang is desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,” Kimmel said, prompting laughter from the studio audience.

But the fallout was swift. Nexstar Media, which operates a number of ABC-affiliated stations, released a statement objecting to Kimmel’s remarks and announced they would no longer carry his show.

“We strongly object to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets,” Nexstar said. ABC quickly followed by removing Jimmy Kimmel Live from its Wednesday night schedule onward.

Variety confirmed the show has been shelved indefinitely.

The controversy erupted just days after Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a central figure in the conservative youth movement, was gunned down while hosting a live Q&A at Utah Valley University on September 10.

The suspected shooter, Tyler Robinson, is a far-left activist who was romantically involved with a transgender-identifying male. Prosecutors say Robinson admitted in text messages to targeting Kirk because he was “filled with hate.” Robinson also left a handwritten note under his keyboard before the attack stating: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”

Initial efforts by leftist pundits to portray Robinson as a disgruntled right-winger quickly fell apart. Reports confirmed Robinson had adopted progressive political views in recent years and expressed pro-transgender sentiments while lashing out at Kirk’s ideology.

Authorities said Robinson’s own parents turned him in after recognizing their son in FBI-released surveillance footage from the shooting.

Kimmel’s remarks — and the laughter they elicited — sparked outrage across the political spectrum. Critics accused the host of downplaying political violence and using a national tragedy for cheap partisan jabs.

ABC has yet to comment publicly on the future of Jimmy Kimmel Live, but network insiders suggest the decision to pull the show was made under mounting internal and external pressure.

The full statement from Nextstar reads:

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST), today announced that the company’s owned and partner television stations affiliated with the ABC Television Network would preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for the foreseeable future beginning with tonight’s show. Nexstar strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC- affiliated markets.

“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,” said Andrew Alford, President of Nexstar’s broadcasting division. “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.”

Ad Blocker Detected!

Refresh