Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show has been pulled from ABC’s lineup indefinitely following controversial comments he made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
During Tuesday night’s broadcast, Kimmel suggested that Tyler Robinson, the suspect accused of assassinating Kirk, had ties to former President Donald Trump. “The MAGA gang is desperately trying to paint this kid as anything but one of their own, while still trying to score political points from a tragedy,” Kimmel said. He went on to remark that the aftermath of the killing was marked by both “finger-pointing” and “grieving.”
ABC’s decision to suspend the show was reinforced by Sinclair, Inc., which operates ABC affiliates in 30 U.S. markets. In a statement, Sinclair confirmed it would no longer air Kimmel’s program, citing “problematic comments regarding the murder of Charlie Kirk.”
Former President Trump praised the move on Truth Social, congratulating ABC for what he described as “cancelling” Kimmel. He also took the opportunity to criticize fellow late-night hosts Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon, suggesting their shows may face similar backlash.
The controversy deepened when Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr hinted at potential regulatory consequences. Speaking on The Benny Johnson Show, Carr warned broadcasters could face “additional work from the FCC” if they failed to take action against Kimmel. “Look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said, noting that networks have the ability to rein in their programming.
The White House Rapid Response team also commented on Truth Social, claiming the suspension “did viewers a favor.” Trump, in a separate post, reminded followers that while he did not orchestrate the firing of Stephen Colbert, he considered Colbert “a pure lack of TALENT” and predicted Kimmel would be next.
The indefinite suspension marks one of the most high-profile network decisions in the wake of the Kirk assassination, reflecting how the tragedy has escalated into broader battles over media, politics, and free speech.
