ABC has announced that it is taking Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show off the air “indefinitely” amid the social media outrage over his recent comments about Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer, Tyler Robinson.
The 57-year-old received severe backlash on social media after he suggested Kirk’s suspected shooter was aligned with the ‘MAGA gang’ during a recent episode of his late-night show. Conservative activist and Donald Trump ally Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while attending an event in Utah.
What did the network say?
″‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ will be pre-empted indefinitely,” an ABC spokesman told CNN.
Also Read: Texas student re-enacts Charlie Kirk's assassination as onlookers laugh in viral video
Nexstar, which owns or operates 24 ABC-affiliated stations, said it “strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets."
“Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located,” President of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, Andrew Alford, told CNBC.
{{/usCountry}}“Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located,” President of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, Andrew Alford, told CNBC.
{{/usCountry}}“Continuing to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve is simply not in the public interest at the current time, and we have made the difficult decision to preempt his show in an effort to let cooler heads prevail as we move toward the resumption of respectful, constructive dialogue,” Alford added.
X user reminded of Stephen Colbert's show:
The news left the internet divided. While many supported ABC’s decision, others were not happy.
An individual posted, “First Stephen Colbert and now Jimmy Kimmel...on a roll I'd say… do you think The View is gone soon… ABC, you are on a roll, don't stop now!”
The X user referenced the host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, whose show was cancelled after 10 seasons. It will end in May 2026 after airing for 33 years on the CBS television network.
Why was The Late Show with Stephen Colbert cancelled?
The move “is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night [television],” CBS told BBC, adding that it "is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters.”
"I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners," Colbert told BBC in an earlier interview, adding, "And of course, I'm grateful to you, the audience, who have joined us every night in here, out there, all around the world."
Also Read: Student paints over Charlie Kirk mural at UNCW, sparks outrage. Watch
Reactions to Jimmy Kimmel's news:
Another added, “I didn't know he was still on the air, it seems he finally gave them an excuse to fire him and stop wasting money on a show no one watches. Good for them.”
A third expressed, “Too arrogant to admit he was 100% wrong.” A fourth wrote, “So Jimmy gets yanked for words, but politicians can say wild stuff daily with no commercial break timeout.”