Jimmy Kimmel’s indefinite suspension from “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” erupted after a heated monologue, where he lambasted the MAGA movement’s response to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, the 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder and staunch ally to President Trump, was fatally shot in the neck on September 10 during a speaking event at Utah Valley University, sending shockwaves through conservative circles. In his opening bit, Kimmel accused the “MAGA gang” of desperately portraying Kirk’s alleged killer—a 19-year-old with reported far-right leanings—as “anything other than one of them” to score political points, while mocking Trump’s flippant reaction to the tragedy.
The remarks ignited immediate fury, with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, slamming them as “some of the sickest conduct possible” and hinting at regulatory remedies, including potential license reviews for ABC affiliates. Nexstar Media Group, the largest U.S. TV station owner with 32 ABC affiliates and pending a $6.2 billion merger approval from the FCC, swiftly announced it would preempt the show “for the foreseeable future,” deeming Kimmel’s words “offensive and insensitive” amid national mourning. Sinclair Broadcast Group, another major ABC affiliate owner, followed suit, pulling the program from its 30-market stations and airing a Kirk tribute special in the time slot, while demanding Kimmel apologize and donate to Kirk’s family and organization.
ABC, under parent Disney, caved within minutes of Nexstar’s move, confirming the indefinite suspension without specifying a return date, leaving Kimmel’s contract—expiring in May 2026—in limbo and canceling a taping amid protests outside his Hollywood studio. President Trump amplified the backlash on Truth Social, declaring it “Great News for America” and claiming Kimmel was “CANCELLED” due to “ZERO talent” and dismal ratings, while urging NBC to axe Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers as “total losers” with “horrible” viewership. Supporters of the network’s decision, including conservative voices like Fox News analyst Brit Hume and Media Research Center President David Bozell, hailed it as vital accountability for “disinformation” and insensitivity, arguing private employers aren’t bound by the First Amendment and praising Nexstar and Sinclair for serving “community standards.”
Critics, however, decried it as blatant censorship and a Trump administration power grab, with late-night peers Stephen Colbert calling it “blatant censorship,” Seth Meyers labeling it a “pivotal moment” for democracy, and Barack Obama warning of “cancel culture on steroids” via regulatory threats; the ACLU echoed fears of unconstitutional silencing, while Hollywood rallied with Ben Stiller’s “This isn’t right” and calls from actress Tatiana Maslany to boycott Disney+ in solidarity.
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