ABC Suspends "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Indefinitely Following Controversial Remarks About Charlie Kirk
- Richard Sykes
- Sep 17, 2025
- 2 min read
Los Angeles, CA – September 17, 2025 – In a dramatic shakeup to late-night television, ABC has announced the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! following host Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The decision comes amid mounting backlash from political figures, media affiliates, and federal regulators.
During his September 15 monologue, Kimmel addressed the fatal shooting of Kirk at a Turning Point USA event in Utah, suggesting that the alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, may have been influenced by far-right ideology. “The MAGA gang is desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,” Kimmel said, sparking immediate criticism from conservative circles and FCC Chair Brendan Carr. 1 2
Carr condemned the comments as “reckless and politically charged,” warning ABC and its parent company Disney that such content could jeopardize their broadcast licenses. “Broadcasters have an obligation to operate in the public interest,” Carr stated on a podcast. “When we see stuff like this, we can do this the easy way or the hard way”.1
Nexstar Media Group, which owns 28 ABC affiliates nationwide, was the first to pull the show from its lineup, citing the need to “let cooler heads prevail” and restore “respectful, constructive dialogue”. ABC followed suit, confirming to multiple outlets that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be “preempted indefinitely”. 2 4
The move has ignited fierce debate across social media and political platforms. President Donald Trump celebrated the suspension on Truth Social, calling it “great news for America” and labeling Kimmel as “ratings challenged”. 1
Kimmel, who has hosted the show since 2003, has not yet issued a public statement. His representatives have declined to comment, though sources close to the production suggest the host was caught off guard by the swift and sweeping response.
The controversy arrives amid broader upheaval in late-night television. CBS recently canceled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and speculation is mounting about the future of other flagship programs. Whether Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return remains uncertain, but the incident underscores the increasingly volatile intersection of entertainment, politics, and public discourse.
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