Sinclair Pulls ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Amidst Charlie Kirk Outrage
Sinclair Broadcasting had previously scheduled to air a particular news documentary about Charlie Kirk, a renowned conservative activist who was tragically murdered, in the slot usually occupied by ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ on their ABC-affiliated channels. Nevertheless, on Friday, the decision was made to shift the broadcasting of the Kirk documentary to YouTube rather than continuing with the original plan to air it on their local ABC stations. Instead, ‘Celebrity Family Feud’, hosted by the charismatic Steve Harvey, was aired during the late-night one-hour window that would typically showcase ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!.’ This particular rerun of ‘Celebrity Family Feud’ entertained viewers on September 17 and 18 as a replacement for the suspended Kimmel show.
Sinclair, a broadcasting giant, in cooperation with another prominent ABC affiliate, decided to remove ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ from their programming recurrence due to certain controversial comments made by Kimmel on-air pertaining to Kirk’s tragic demise. These remarks made by Kimmel incited a wave of outrage amongst supporters who interpreted his comments as insensitive. Following these discussions was a chain of implications suggesting that ABC and its partners may find themselves under regulatory scrutiny if they chose not to respond appropriately to Kimmel’s statement.
Due to mounting pressure from affiliates, it was collectively decided to postpone ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ until further notice. There is speculation indicating that negotiations are being held between Kimmel and the executive team, with the intention of finding a middle ground that could enable the show’s return to air. However, the precondition for the continued partnership between the broadcasting company and Kimmel involves how he addresses the situation moving forward.
Sinclair, a broadcasting corporation recognized for its conservative leanings, stated that the reinstatement of ‘Kimmel’ on its ABC affiliates would require certain prerequisites. They proposed that Kimmel must express a sincere apology to the family of Charlie Kirk and contribute a significant personal donation to them and Turning Point USA, a foundation that was established by Kirk himself. But these terms are yet to be agreed upon.
Sinclair, as a network, oversees a multitude of ABC affiliates. They respected the decision to replace ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ with ‘Celebrity Family Feud’ which appealed to the audience with a star-studded lineup. The episode of ‘Celebrity Family Feud’ that was broadcased on that Friday featured singer Normani and actor-comedian Michelle Buteau in a hilarious face-off.
The friendly competition continued with Andy Richter, actor-comedian, dueling against fellow actor, Jason Ritter. Both entertaining segments of ‘Celebrity Family Feud’ served as an enjoyable distraction from the controversy surrounding the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ time slot. Furthermore, the competition was for a good cause, with the prize money from the show being donated to the celebrities’ chosen charities, highlighting the spirit of philanthropy.