Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been pulled from the air indefinitely following intense backlash over comments host Jimmy Kimmel made regarding the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
During a recent monologue, Kimmel criticized conservatives on Monday for “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it.” The remarks quickly drew criticism from conservative figures and certain media groups who deemed them insensitive given the nature of the incident.
The strongest pushback came from Nexstar Media Group, which owns dozens of ABC-affiliated local stations. Nexstar condemned Kimmel’s remarks as “offensive and insensitive” and announced it would immediately stop airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! on all of its ABC affiliates.
Shortly after, ABC announced that it would also preempt the show “indefinitely” across its network, effectively removing it from the late-night lineup until further notice.
The controversy escalated when Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr publicly criticized Kimmel’s comments, stating that broadcasters must consider whether their programming aligns with the public interest. While no formal regulatory action has been taken, Carr’s remarks signaled possible scrutiny from the federal regulator should the show return.
This move comes on the heels of a similar situation involving The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which was also recently pulled from the air following backlash over politically charged remarks. That suspension, like Kimmel’s, sparked heated debate about the boundaries of political commentary in entertainment, with critics accusing networks of censorship and supporters arguing that broadcast outlets must be accountable to public standards.
The back-to-back controversies highlights rising tensions around political commentary in entertainment media. It also raises questions about censorship, editorial independence, and how far networks will go to shield themselves from political controversy and appease advertisers.
Kimmel has hosted the show since 2003 and has long been known for blending comedy with pointed political commentary — as recently as this week when he addressed Trump’s $15B lawsuit against the New York Time.
Kimmel has not yet issued a formal statement in response to the show’s suspension. ABC has not confirmed whether this hiatus will be permanent.
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