Unrepentant Jimmy Kimmel Refused to Apologize After Charlie Kirk Remarks — Planned to Double Down on MAGA Attacks Before Show Yanked: Report

Jimmy Kimmel reportedly refused to apologize for blaming MAGA supporters in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination — and instead planned to escalate his attacks on President Trump’s base before being pulled off the air.

According to Deadline, Kimmel was informed in a call with Disney television executive Dana Walden on Wednesday afternoon that Jimmy Kimmel Live was being suspended indefinitely. The decision came after intense backlash from conservative viewers, affiliate station owners, and political commentators who accused the late-night host of spreading divisive and incendiary rhetoric following the murder of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

Kimmel allegedly stood his ground during the call, refusing to retract or walk back his on-air remarks that linked the conservative movement to a culture of violence. Sources close to the situation told The Hollywood Reporter that Kimmel did not believe his comments warranted an apology.

Instead, insiders say Kimmel was planning to “clarify” his remarks in an upcoming episode by hitting back even harder at his critics — and using the controversy to amplify his criticism of Trump supporters.

That episode never aired.

Multiple affiliate owners and executives had called for disciplinary action against Kimmel, with some threatening to stop carrying his program altogether if ABC failed to act. The network’s decision to suspend the show indefinitely was framed as a business decision, though it also came amid ongoing internal debate over how far late-night hosts can go in the current political climate.

Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed at a Utah college event on September 10. The suspect, Tyler Robinson, reportedly espoused far-left views and told investigators he targeted Kirk because of his conservative beliefs.

The backlash against Kimmel marks the latest flashpoint in the broader media debate over rhetoric, political violence, and accountability. While liberal critics argue that Kimmel’s statements were within the bounds of political commentary, conservatives have accused him of “dancing on the grave” of a murdered activist and fueling division.

ABC has not issued a public statement regarding the show’s future.