Veteran radio host Howard Stern has expressed empathy for Jimmy Kimmel and ABC after affiliates Nexstar and Sinclair took Jimmy Kimmel Live off-air due to Kimmel’s controversial comments, implying that the alleged killer in Charlie Kirk’s case is associated with “the MAGA gang.”
“I can’t hold back anymore,” Stern stated on his SiriusXM broadcast this Monday. “I feel compelled to speak out, because things are spiraling out of control.”
“This concerns ABC. They’ve done something incredibly foolish and terrible,” Stern commented. “Everyone knows the situation with Jimmy Kimmel. Ultimately, my opinion isn’t necessary to realize that ABC has made a grave mistake.”
Stern, like many mainstream media figures, did not address that ABC affiliates removed Kimmel due to his false statement on national broadcast about Kirk’s alleged killer, wrongly labeling him as a Trump supporter. As John Nolte highlights, “Kimmel made a blatant falsehood on a national platform. In the aftermath, neither he nor ABC/Disney have issued a correction or apology.”
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson responded to Stern, telling The New York Post “This isn’t about free speech; Kimmel, whose ratings are disappointingly low, can make as many poor jokes as he likes, but a corporation isn’t obligated to lose money on an unpopular program.”
“Kimmel’s viewership has dropped by over 63 percent since changing timeslots, and he’s lost more than 43 percent of his audience since President Trump resumed office,” Jackson stated. “Jimmy Kimmel’s failure isn’t an issue of free expression; it’s one of lacking talent.”
Stern said, “It might sound stupid, this morning I’m canceling my Disney+.”
As of Monday, ABC chief Dana Walden and her deputy Rob Mills (who oversees Jimmy Kimmel Live) don’t know what they are putting on in Kimmel’s 11:30 p.m. EST time slot. Kimmel hasn’t met with Disney since last Thursday. A meeting is said to take place early this week. Kimmel and his staff, for now, are enjoying paid time off.
