Why Jimmy Kimmel's Show Was Suspended: The Full Story

The Suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s Late-Night Show

ABC has taken the unusual step of suspending Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely. This decision followed significant backlash from affiliated broadcasters and the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over the comedian's remarks regarding the recent killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kimmel did not focus primarily on Kirk, who was a long-time ally of former President Donald Trump. Instead, he criticized Trump and his supporters, known as the "MAGA Gang," for their response to the assassination. He accused them of "finger-pointing" and attempting to portray the alleged shooter as someone other than a supporter of Trump.

Before ABC’s suspension, broadcasters Nexstar and Sinclair had announced they would stop airing Kimmel’s show on their affiliated stations. The FCC also warned that the network and its local affiliates could face consequences if Kimmel was not held accountable.

Kimmel, whose contract with The Walt Disney Co.-owned network is set to expire in May 2026, has not yet commented on the suspension.

Why Was Kimmel’s Show Suspended?

ABC, which has aired “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” since 2003, did not immediately explain the reason for the suspension. The announcement came after both Nexstar Communications Group and Sinclair Broadcasting Group stated they would stop airing Kimmel’s show on their ABC-affiliated stations.

In a social media post, Sinclair cited "problematic comments regarding the murder of Charlie Kirk" as the reason for its decision. Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, described Kimmel's comments as "offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse."

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, appointed by Trump last November, called Kimmel’s comments "truly sick." He later praised the decisions to stop airing Kimmel's show.

What Did Kimmel Say After Kirk’s Death?

Kimmel referred to Kirk's death as a "senseless murder" a day after the fatal shooting in Utah and condemned those who appeared to celebrate it. He discussed the aftermath during his show on Monday and Tuesday, focusing on the response from Trump and his supporters.

He accused them of trying to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk. Kimmel specifically targeted the alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, saying the MAGA Gang was trying to portray him as not one of them to score political points.

During his monologue, Kimmel criticized Trump's response, stating, "This is how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish, OK?" He also mocked FBI chief Kash Patel for handling the investigation "like a kid who didn’t read the book."

On Tuesday night, Kimmel made fun of Vice President JD Vance’s performance as guest host for Kirk’s podcast.

How Has Trump Responded?

The suspension of Kimmel’s show comes amid broader efforts by Trump and other conservatives to control speech following Kirk’s killing. It also marks another attempt by the Trump administration to influence the U.S. media landscape.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump applauded ABC for "finally having the courage to do what had to be done." He claimed Kimmel "has ZERO talent," focusing on what he said were poor ratings. He also criticized other names in late-night TV.

At a news conference during his state visit to Britain, Trump said ABC should have fired the comedian long ago. "You can call that free speech or not, he was fired for lack of talent," he said.

How Have Others Responded?

Kimmel's suspension has received both criticism and support. Former President Barack Obama wrote on social media that the current administration had reached a "new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like."

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Biden appointee, stated that "We cannot allow an inexcusable act of political violence to be twisted into justification for government censorship and control."

Conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly argued that Kimmel's suggestion that Kirk's killer may have been a Trump supporter was a "vile, disgusting lie."

Others expressed concern about the implications for free speech, including actors Wanda Sykes and Jean Smart. Smart noted, "What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech. People seem to only want to protect free speech when it suits THEIR agenda."