ABC has officially suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the late-night host’s comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk set off a political firestorm. The move comes after affiliates, including Nexstar, threatened to stop airing the show, and the chairman of the FCC suggested the network could face regulatory action.
The controversy stems from Kimmel’s recent monologue addressing Kirk’s assassination. During the segment, Kimmel implied that Kirk’s killer may have been tied to the MAGA movement, despite reports from authorities that the suspect leaned far-left politically. Kimmel also criticized Republicans, specifically Donald Trump, for blaming Democrats in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“With all these terrible things happening, you would think that our president would at least make an attempt to bring us together, but he didn’t,” Kimmel said. “President Obama did. President Biden did. Presidents Bush and Clinton did. President Trump did not. Instead, he blamed Democrats for their rhetoric.”
That commentary drew sharp criticism from conservatives, with some accusing Kimmel of spreading misinformation and politicizing a tragedy. The tension escalated when Nexstar, the nation’s largest TV station group, announced it would pull the show if ABC did not take action. Adding to the pressure, the FCC chairman publicly hinted at possible regulatory steps against ABC.
For a show that’s been on the air for over 20 years, the suspension marks one of the biggest disruptions in its history. ABC has not confirmed how long the suspension will last or whether Kimmel will return to the late-night desk anytime soon.
