If you’re on YouTube often, you might have seen Jimmy Kimmel before.
And he has been…cancelled. Literally.
ABC has suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely following controversial remarks the host made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The Disney-owned network confirmed the decision on 17 Sep 2025, using the television industry term “preempted indefinitely”.
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and close ally of President Donald Trump, was fatally shot on 10 Sep 2025 during a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Utah. Police arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who used a rifle to shoot Kirk with a single bullet to the neck from a rooftop. Robinson faces aggravated murder charges, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.
Kimmel’s Controversial Monologue
During his Monday night show on 16 Sep 2025, Kimmel addressed the Kirk shooting in his opening monologue. He accused Trump supporters of exploiting Kirk’s death for political advantage, stating: “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”.
Kimmel also criticized Trump’s response to Kirk’s death, comparing it to how a child grieves. He remarked: “This is not how an adult mourns the murder of someone he refers to as a friend; it resembles how a toddler grieves for a goldfish”.
Network and Affiliate Pressure
The suspension came after Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr publicly threatened action against ABC affiliates. On 17 Sep 2025, Carr appeared on a podcast criticizing Kimmel and urging affiliates to “push back” against ABC.
Nexstar Media Group, which owns 28 ABC affiliate stations across the United States, announced it would preempt Kimmel’s show “for the foreseeable future”. Company President stated: “Mr Kimmel’s remarks about the death of Mr Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political dialogue”.
Sources revealed that ABC received feedback from at least one additional station group regarding the program, suggesting broader affiliate pressure influenced the network’s decision.
Industry Shock and Political Reaction
The announcement caught Kimmel’s production team off guard. As news broke on Wednesday afternoon, guests scheduled for that evening’s taping were already en route to the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood where the show films.
A celebrity publicist told CNN: “We are all shell-shocked”. Another studio publicist said: “I cannot believe this is real life”.
Kimmel is reportedly “absolutely furious” about ABC’s decision, according to sources who spoke to the Daily Mail. A producer described the host as “angry” and noted he is currently in discussions with the network.
Trump’s Victory Lap
Conversely, President Trump, who has frequently clashed with Kimmel, celebrated the suspension on social media. Writing from the United Kingdom where he was conducting an official visit, Trump posted: “Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done”.
Trump also targeted other late-night hosts, calling Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers “two total losers” on NBC and criticizing their ratings.
Kimmel has hosted his ABC show for over 20 years, with his wife Molly McNearney serving as head writer and executive producer. The indefinite suspension marks an unprecedented move by a major network against one of television’s most established late-night programs.
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