ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely after the late-night host's comments about the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk drew sharp backlash from affiliates, regulators, and viewers. The move marks one of the most significant shakeups in network late-night television since the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbertearlier this year.
On September 15, Jimmy Kimmel used his opening monologue to criticize what he called efforts by the MAGA movement to distance itself from Tyler Robinson, the alleged shooter accused of killing Kirk at Utah Valley University.
"We hit new lows this weekend with the MAGA gang trying to spin this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk into something other than what he is," Kimmel said, accusing Trump allies of turning the tragedy into a political talking point.
LOL 😂 ABC "News" is pulling Jimmy Kimmel's show "indefinitely" due to his comments about Charlie Kirk.
— ThePatriotFeed (@thepatriotfeed) September 17, 2025
Thoughts?pic.twitter.com/tpMCSzX05F
The comments were quickly condemned by conservatives who accused Kimmel of politicizing Kirk's death. Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), described the remarks as "deeply offensive" and raised the possibility of regulatory scrutiny over ABC's broadcast licenses.
The strongest blow came from Nexstar Media Group, which owns more than 30 ABC affiliates across the United States. Nexstar executives announced they would stop airing Jimmy Kimmel Live!, calling Kimmel's monologue "insensitive during a moment of national grief."
Andrew Alford, Nexstar's president of broadcasting, said continuing to run the program was "not in the public interest." Within hours, other ABC affiliates followed suit, effectively pulling the show off the air in most markets. ABC confirmed the suspension later that day, noting the program's future remains undecided.
I want to thank Nexstar for doing the right thing.
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) September 17, 2025
Local broadcasters have an obligation to serve the public interest. While this may be an unprecedented decision, it is important for broadcasters to push back on Disney programming that they determine falls short of community… https://t.co/Px5boYbqNR
A Pattern in Late-Night Politics
The controversy comes at a turbulent time for late-night TV. Stephen Colbert's Late Show was canceled earlier this year as CBS undergoes a cost-cutting merger with Skydance Media. While CBS executives cited financial reasons, several Democratic senators raised alarms that political pressure may have played a role. Reports suggested Paramount, CBS's parent company, struck a $15 million deal with Donald Trump to ease the merger approval process, raising questions about whether Colbert's outspoken criticism of the former president influenced the decision.
Colbert himself addressed Kirk's death in a somber statement during his September 11 broadcast. Altering the show's prerecorded opening, Colbert offered condolences to Kirk's family and warned viewers: "Political violence only breeds more political violence." The contrast between Colbert's restrained tone and Kimmel's biting satire underscores the increasingly precarious space comedians occupy when engaging with politics on national television.
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