ABC Suspends Jimmy Kimmel Live Over Remarks on Charlie Kirk Assassination
ABC, owned by Walt Disney, announced on September 17 it was taking Jimmy Kimmel Live off the air after remarks by the late-night host about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk led to threats from the head of the top US communications regulator.
Donald Trump, who has long pressured broadcasters to curb content he dislikes, welcomed the suspension in a social media post. Democratic lawmakers, however, condemned the move, calling it an attack on free expression. The removal of Kimmel’s show is the latest in a series of actions against media figures, academics, teachers and employees whose comments about Kirk’s killing have drawn controversy.
Kimmel’s Monologue Sparks Backlash
Republican leaders and conservative voices have warned the public to show respect for Kirk or face repercussions. Some individuals have already lost their jobs or been suspended over their online remarks.
Kimmel, a frequent critic of Trump on his show, came under fire for his monologue on September 15 in which he said:
«We hit some new lows over the weekend, with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.»
Kirk, 31, a high-profile Trump ally known for his combative style, was fatally shot while speaking at a Utah university a week ago. A 22-year-old has been charged with his murder, though the motive remains uncertain.
Pressure from Regulators and Broadcasters
Following Kimmel’s comments, Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr urged local broadcasters to drop the programme, warning the FCC could investigate and possibly fine or revoke licences if a pattern of distorted commentary emerged.
«This is a very serious issue for Disney. We can do this the easy way or the hard way,» Carr said in an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson.
Nexstar Media Group soon announced it would no longer air the show across its 32 ABC affiliates, citing Kimmel’s remarks. Carr praised Nexstar’s move, particularly as the company awaits FCC approval for a $6.2 bn merger with Tegna. Shortly afterwards, ABC itself confirmed that Kimmel would be taken off air indefinitely. Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest owner of ABC affiliates, went further, saying it would not resume airing the show even if ABC brought it back unless Kimmel apologised. Sinclair added it would broadcast a tribute to Kirk during Kimmel’s usual slot on September 19.
Kimmel was seen leaving the El Capitan Theatre, where the show is filmed, but did not comment.
Trump Applauds, Democrats Object
Trump cheered the decision, urging NBC to also sack late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers.
«Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done,» Trump said.
Democrats reacted with sharp criticism. Senator Ed Markey called the move «censorship in action,» while FCC commissioner Anna Gomez, the body’s only Democrat, stressed that free speech protections prevent the FCC from dictating broadcast content.
«This administration is increasingly using the weight of government power to suppress lawful expression,» she told CNN.
Wider Fallout Across Media
Trump has a record of legal battles with media companies. This week he launched a $15 bn defamation suit against the New York Times and Penguin Random House. In July, Paramount paid $16 mln to settle a lawsuit over the editing of an interview with Kamala Harris, and in December ABC paid $15 mln to resolve a defamation case brought by Trump against anchor George Stephanopoulos.
The fallout from Kirk’s killing has also spread beyond Kimmel. MSNBC dismissed analyst Matthew Dowd for describing Kirk as «divisive» and a purveyor of «hate speech.» MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler apologised, calling the remarks inappropriate. Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah said she had been dismissed over social media posts referencing Kirk’s past statements about Black women, though the newspaper declined to comment on personnel matters. Its staff union condemned the firing.
Additionally, users on X (formerly Twitter) are boycotting Disney, ABC and Hulu for this move.
