Disney's ABC yanks 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' off air after remarks about Kirk

 

Walt Disney-owned ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live off the air after the host’s remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk triggered sharp political fallout and pressure from the Federal Communications Commission. Kirk, 31, was shot dead while speaking at a Utah university last week, with a 22-year-old man now charged over his death. In his Monday monologue, Kimmel criticized attempts by right-wing figures to spin the tragedy, accusing them of trying to deflect blame and use it for political advantage. His comments drew condemnation from conservative leaders, as well as FCC chair Brendan Carr, who warned that Disney and its affiliates could face regulatory consequences.

In response, Nexstar Media Group dropped the program from its 32 ABC affiliates, citing Kimmel’s words. ABC then announced the show would be “preempted indefinitely.” Sinclair, another major affiliate group, went further by vowing not to reinstate the show unless Kimmel apologizes, while promising to air a tribute to Kirk in his timeslot. The backlash adds to growing pressure on media figures, teachers, and journalists who have commented critically since Kirk’s killing.

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The removal of Jimmy Kimmel Live drew contrasting reactions across U.S. politics. Former president Donald Trump, who has long pressured networks to silence critics, praised ABC for its decision and called for NBC to fire Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, both frequent critics of him. “Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Democratic lawmakers, however, denounced the suspension as an attack on free expression, with Senator Ed Markey calling it “censorship in action.” FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the body’s only Democratic member, warned that U.S. free speech protections should prevent regulators from determining what broadcasters can air.

The Kimmel suspension follows a wave of disciplinary actions against journalists and commentators who commented on Kirk’s divisive legacy after his death. MSNBC fired analyst Matthew Dowd for labeling Kirk as a spreader of “hate speech,” while the Washington Post dismissed columnist Karen Attiah after she highlighted Kirk’s past remarks about Black women. Critics argue these firings and suspensions show how political pressure is increasingly shaping media coverage in the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination.

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