ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its schedule indefinitely following controversial comments by the late night host about the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel, speaking on Monday, criticised attempts by Trump allies to distance themselves from the 22-year-old suspect accused of shooting Kirk at Utah Valley University last week. “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to characterise this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,” he said.
An ABC spokesperson confirmed to TheWrap that the programme would be “pre-empted indefinitely”, though offered no details on whether Kimmel would return. The move follows an announcement by Nexstar Media Group, America’s largest local television broadcaster, that it would stop airing the show across its network.
Andrew Alford, Nexstar’s broadcasting president, said the remarks were “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse”. He added: “We do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located. Continuing to give Mr Kimmel a broadcast platform is simply not in the public interest at the current time, and we have made the difficult decision to pre-empt his show in an effort to let cooler heads prevail.”
Nexstar controls more than 200 television stations in 116 US markets, reaching some 220 million viewers. Its decision, coupled with ABC’s suspension, effectively sidelines one of the longest-running network late night shows in the country.
The suspension comes amid heightened political tensions following Kirk’s killing, which has deepened partisan disputes over rhetoric, free speech and accountability. It also marks one of the most significant interventions by a major network in response to late night political commentary in recent years.
