ABC Pulls “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Indefinitely Following Backlash Over Comments on Charlie Kirk’s Death
- Funny
- Offensive
September 17th, 2025 – ABC has suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely following controversy over Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks about the recent killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The decision comes after backlash from conservative media outlets, local broadcasters, and a public rebuke from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
What Happened
Earlier this week, Kimmel used his monologue to criticize what he described as efforts by “the MAGA gang” to distance themselves from the accused shooter in Kirk’s death, suggesting they were trying to reframe the narrative to avoid political responsibility. Critics have argued those comments were misleading.
Per Kimmel’s monologue:
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately 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.”
In response, Nexstar Media Group — one of the largest owners of ABC-affiliated stations — announced it would preempt the show on its ABC affiliates “for the foreseeable future,” calling Kimmel’s remarks “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse.”
FCC Chair Brendan Carr also weighed in, saying that there was “a strong case” for regulatory action, including possible consequences for the network if the content was found to mislead or violate rules about serving the public interest.
ABC’s Response
ABC has confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be “pre-empted indefinitely.” The network did not publicly give a detailed explanation beyond citing the controversy. Nexstar will replace Kimmel’s show with other programming in its markets.
There is no indication yet whether this is a permanent cancellation, or whether the show might return after some sort of retraction or settlement of the dispute. Kimmel’s own response has so far been limited.
Even staunch conservative voices have started to question the current environment:
Broader Implications
This move has stirred concern among free speech advocates, media observers, and Hollywood, sparking debates about political pressure on comedians, the role of broadcast standards, and how much influence regulators and station owners should have over on-air commentary.
Supporters of the suspension argue that broadcasters have community standards and need to be accountable, especially when accusations of misinformation or mischaracterization arise. Detractors warn that this could set a precedent for chilling speech or censorship in political satire or commentary.