ABC has taken the significant step of suspending controversial late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel from the airwaves ‘indefinitely’ following his contentious comments related to the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
The veteran host’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be removed from the network ‘for the foreseeable future,’ a spokesperson announced on Wednesday.
The drastic decision follows Kimmel, 57, issuing a controversial statement about the murder of Kirk by suspect Tyler Robinson, 22, suggesting that Robinson was aligned with conservative ideologies.
However, investigators say Robinson held far-left ideologies and was dating his transgender roommate.
Kimmel’s unsubstantiated insinuation that Robinson was a supporter of the MAGA movement swiftly drew criticism from Federal Communications Commission’s Brendan Carr.
On Wednesday, during a conversation with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, Carr mentioned he was contemplating initiating an investigation into Kimmel and ABC in light of the provocative comments.
‘When you look at the conduct that has taken place by Jimmy Kimmel, it appears to be some of the sickest conduct possible,’ Carr told Johnson.
‘As you mentioned, the FCC has certain avenues, so I need to proceed with caution since we might eventually be called to judge some of these arising claims,’ Carr stated.
He is now set to appear in his first interview following the bombshell news on Sean Hannity’s show on Fox News.
Controversial late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has been suspended by ABC over his divisive comments regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk
Kirk (pictured with his family) was a co-founder of the political nonprofit Turning Point USA
Shortly after the ally of Donald Trump (pictured), 31, was shot fatally in the neck on the Orem campus – before an audience of 3,000 shocked onlookers – Kimmel expressed his reaction to the tragic event online.
Kimmel’s comments about Robinson came during his Monday night monologue.
‘We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it,’ the host said.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been a network staple for more than 22 years.
In response to Kimmel’s remarks, Carr floated the idea of suspending the host – one of several prospective ‘remedies’ for the situation, he said.
At one point, Johnson asked Carr what kind of action he thought should be taken, proposing an on-air apology from Kimmel.
‘I think what you said there strikes me as a very reasonable, minimal step that can be taken,’ Carr replied.
ABC’s decision to pull the show came shortly after its affiliate group, Nexstar, also announced it would stop airing it effective immediately.
‘Nexstar 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,’ the company wrote on Wednesday.
Carr told podcaster Benny Johnson on Wednesday he was considering an investigation into Kimmel
‘Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human?’ the Jimmy Kimmel Live host wrote on Instagram
Nexstar’s broadcasting division President Andrew Alford blasted Kimmel’s comments as ‘offensive and insensitive’ in the wake of the Turning Point USA co-founder’s gory assassination, which occurred at a Utah Valley University rally on September 10.
Soon after the Donald Trump ally, 31, was fatally shot in the neck on the Orem campus – in front of an audience of 3,000 horrified spectators – Kimmel reacted to his death online.
‘Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human?’ Kimmel wrote.
‘On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.’
But he seemingly changed his tune during the Monday night monologue that ultimately got his show pulled.
In reaction to Nextstar’s move to axe Kimmel, both Johnson and Carr posted celebratory sentiments on X.
‘Great job @NXSTMediaGroup. Thank you for standing up for Charlie,’ Johnson wrote.
