A number of Hollywood celebrities have since commented on the matter.
ABC said it has suspended talk show host Jimmy Kimmel indefinitely over remarks about conservative influencer Charlie Kirk’s assassination, coming after the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) warned he would act against ABC.
In his monologue on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Sept. 15, Kimmel said that the “MAGA gang” was “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them” and accused them of trying to “score political points from it.”
Prosecutors, Utah’s governor, and the director of the FBI have said that the assassination suspect, Tyler Robinson, had become more leftist, and Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said on Sept. 16 that Robinson also had pro-transgender views. Gray also said that Robinson allegedly told his parents that Kirk “spreads too much hate” before he was captured last week.
Kimmel also sent condolences to the Kirk family last week while denouncing “senseless gun violence.”
What Happened?
Nexstar Media, one of the biggest owners of local television stations in the United States, said it would not broadcast Kimmel’s show for the foreseeable future and also said his remarks about Kirk were “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in [the] national political discourse.”
Sinclair Broadcast Group said it would not air the show either. The company called on Kimmel to apologize to Kirk’s family and make a “meaningful personal donation” to the slain activist’s political organization, Turning Point USA. Sinclair said that its 38 ABC stations will air a tribute to Kirk on Sept. 19 in Kimmel’s time slot.
President Donald Trump celebrated ABC’s move on Truth Social, saying, “Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.”
A spokesperson for ABC told numerous media outlets on Sept. 17 that Kimmel’s show was pulled from its nightly lineup.
