Dozens of ABC Stations to Air Charlie Kirk Tribute in Jimmy Kimmel’s Timeslot
The fallout from Jimmy Kimmel’s inflammatory remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination continues to escalate — and now, dozens of ABC stations will use the late-night comedian’s timeslot to honor the slain conservative leader instead.
Sinclair Broadcast Group, which operates 30 ABC affiliates, announced Wednesday that it will pre-empt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” this Friday and replace it with a tribute special titled In Remembrance of Charlie Kirk. The move comes just one day after Disney indefinitely pulled Kimmel’s show from its lineup amid national backlash.
“Mr. Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country,” Sinclair Vice Chairman Jason Smith said in a statement. “Until formal discussions are held with ABC regarding the network’s commitment to professionalism and accountability, this program will remain suspended.”
Sinclair is not alone. Nexstar Media Group — the largest owner of local ABC stations in the country — also pulled the plug on Kimmel’s show earlier in the week.
“Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive,” Nexstar’s Andrew Alford said. “Continuing to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform is simply not in the public interest at the current time.”
Kimmel drew outrage after accusing conservatives of “reaching new lows” by claiming the suspected killer of Kirk, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was radicalized by leftist ideology. Despite prosecutors confirming those ties in Robinson’s indictment, Kimmel insisted the “MAGA gang” was “desperately trying” to politicize the killing — remarks that critics say dangerously distorted the facts and mocked the death of a young father and conservative leader.
In one now-infamous quote from Monday’s show, Kimmel said, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
The backlash was swift — and bipartisan. President Donald Trump celebrated Disney’s decision as “great news for America,” while FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr praised local broadcasters for standing up to “progressive foie gras coming out from New York and Hollywood.”
At the same time, liberals like Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) rushed to Kimmel’s defense, bizarrely accusing Trump and the FCC of violating the Constitution.
“I’m not sure who deserves more disdain and disgust: Trump and the FCC for their blatant violation of the Constitution, or Disney and Nexstar for sacrificing their values and folding to a wannabe Mob Boss and his authoritarian goons,” Goldman fumed on X.
Kimmel was reportedly prepared to address the controversy on Wednesday’s show and defend his comments as being “taken out of context,” but Disney took the decision out of his hands.
Now, with Kimmel off the air indefinitely, Charlie Kirk’s voice — and the values he championed — will take center stage.
Sinclair’s statement didn’t stop at programming changes. The company is demanding a public apology from Kimmel, a personal donation to the Kirk family and to Turning Point USA, and assurances that ABC is serious about restoring trust.
“Regardless of ABC’s plans for the future of the program,” Sinclair said, “we intend not to return ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ to our air until we are confident that appropriate steps have been taken.”
Friday night’s Charlie Kirk tribute special is expected to feature archival clips of his college speeches, interviews, and appearances alongside TPUSA members and supporters. It marks the first time a national network affiliate group has offered a primetime tribute to a conservative activist — and a strong rebuke to Hollywood’s attempts to marginalize dissenting voices.
One thing is clear: in the void left by late-night propaganda, a new kind of broadcast moment is taking shape — one that honors life, liberty, and the truth.