ABC has suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! “indefinitely” following comments the late-night host made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The network, owned by Disney, announced on Wednesday night, September 17, that Kimmel’s show would be pulled from its schedule for the foreseeable future. “Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be preempted indefinitely,” an ABC spokesperson said, confirming that another program would replace the show in its regular timeslot.

The move came just hours after Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr appointed under former President Donald Trump warned broadcasters that they risked fines or even license revocation if they continued airing the show. Appearing on right-wing commentator Benny Johnson’s podcast, Carr urged local stations to act immediately, later praising those who did so for “serving the public interest.”

Two of the nation’s largest broadcasters quickly responded. Nexstar Media said it “strongly objected” to Kimmel’s remarks and would preempt the program “for the foreseeable future” across its ABC affiliates. Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns more ABC stations than any other company, announced it would air a tribute to Kirk during Kimmel’s usual Friday slot.

Former President Trump hailed ABC’s decision as “great news for America” in a social media post, congratulating the network for its “courage” while taking fresh shots at rival late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers. The move comes two months after CBS canceled Stephen Colbert’s show.


Kimmel’s suspension follows remarks made during his monologues on Monday and Tuesday, in which he criticized attempts by MAGA supporters to politicize Kirk’s murder. Referring to suspect Tyler Robinson charged with aggravated murder and facing a possible death sentence Kimmel suggested the right was trying to “score political points” by distancing itself from the accused.

On Tuesday, he accused Vice President JD Vance of spreading false blame. “While our side of the aisle certainly has its crazies, it is a statistical fact that most of the lunatics in American politics today are proud members of the far left,” Vance had said on Kirk’s podcast.

Kimmel responded: “And by ‘statistical fact’, he means ‘complete bullshit’,” citing a Justice Department study (since removed) that identified far-right groups as the greatest source of extremist violence in the U.S. He also pressed Vance on January 6: “Who wanted to hang the guy who was vice president before you? Was that the liberal left? Or the toothless army who stormed the Capitol?”

Nexstar executive Andrew Alford called Kimmel’s comments “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse,” adding: “Continuing to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform is simply not in the public interest. We have made the difficult decision to preempt his show in an effort to let cooler heads prevail.”

Kimmel has yet to issue a statement on the suspension. Meanwhile, many Americans have taken to social media to question whether free speech still exists in the United States.