Jimmy Kimmel Live! Taken Off Air Indefinitely After Comments About Charlie Kirk
Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been taken off the air indefinitely by ABC over comments the late-night host made about the political reaction to conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination. During his Monday night monologue, Kimmel criticized Trump and his allies, saying they were “desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.” He also mocked Trump's public response, saying, “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
The suspension followed backlash from major broadcasting partners over the episode. Nexstar Media, which is one of the biggest owners of TV stations in the US and broadcasts Jimmy Kimmel Live!, called Kimmel’s comments “offensive and insensitive” and said the program would no longer air “for the foreseeable future.” Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), praised the move, stating that broadcasters have an “obligation to operate in the public interest,” and encouraged Disney to take similar steps.
President Donald Trump celebrated the decision, posting on Truth Social: “The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.” Trump later went further, calling Kimmel “talentless” and urging cancellations of other late-night hosts including Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers.
The removal of Kimmel’s show has sparked outrage from Hollywood and political figures alike. Ben Stiller wrote, “This isn’t right.” Actress Sophia Bush said, “The First Amendment doesn’t exist in America anymore.” Governor Gavin Newsom accused Republicans of “coordinated censorship,” while Senator Chris Murphy warned this may be “the start of a campaign to wipe out Trump’s critics.” Unions like WGA and SAG-AFTRA condemned the move, calling it a threat to free speech.
While ABC has not officially fired Kimmel, sources suggest internal discussions are underway regarding his return and potential future statements. As networks face mounting political pressure and declining ratings, Kimmel’s suspension is being seen not just as fallout from one monologue, but as a flashpoint in the growing fight over media freedom in an increasingly polarized America.
