ABC Suspends Jimmy Kimmel Live After Charlie Kirk Remarks

Disney's ABC has put Jimmy Kimmel Live! on indefinite hiatus due to recent comments by host Jimmy Kimmel regarding the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. There has been no announcement regarding when the show will come back. Other ABC programming, such as “Celebrity Family Feud” will fill the show's time slot. 

This move comes in the wake of backlash from broadcasters, politicians, and even the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which expressed concern about the programmatic content. Many are talking about this on social media, transforming it into a Hollywood and political conversation. 

What Jimmy Kimmel said about Charlie Kirk

Kimmel, in his Monday night monologue, talked about the murder of Charlie Kirk, and connected the suspect to political motivations. Kimmel chastised aspects of how some groups were framing what happened and stripping the case of its political nature. 

Kimmel indicated this incident was an example of the “new lows” in our political discourse in regard to some efforts to construct the killer in this way. Many criticized these comments as insensitive and abrasive, while others defended them as part of Kimmel’s duties as a late-night comedic host.

‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ has been suspended indefinitely following comments made by Kimmel regarding Charlie Kirk’s death. pic.twitter.com/mjiGRd68X8

— Pop Base (@PopBase) September 17, 2025

Broadcasters Take a Stand: Pull Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Local ABC affiliates have taken it into their own hands after Kimmel’s comments. Nexstar Media Group confirmed it would preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 23 stations, stating that it makes the decision to reflect the values of local communities. Likewise, Sinclair Broadcast Group stopped airing the show altogether, calling on ABC to respond to the situation in order to maintain trust with viewers.

This is a demonstration of how broadcasters are exerting their influence over network programs, when negative public sentiment and political sensitivity collide. This also likely puts ABC on notice that affiliates will take action on their own if a jester crosses the line into something they deem inappropriate.

Impact on Advertisers and Sponsors

The controversy has piqued the interest of advertisers too. Many brands reportedly have paused or reconsidered ads during the series' reruns, because they don't want to be linked to or appear like staunch friends of the backlash.  

For Disney, this plays into the financial and reputational risks that a politically-charged piece of content creates in this new ecosystem in which networks, and their owners, want to tread lightly on the subject to balance their creative freedoms and the priorities of their advertisers.

Public and Political Reactions to Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC Suspension

Reactions to the suspension appear to cut across the political spectrum: 

• Donald Trump applauded ABC's action. 
• Democratic lawmakers and free speech advocates slammed it as censorship, and a dangerous precedent. 
• Anna Gomez, a Democratic member of the FCC, raised concerns about how the government could influence content provided by the media to the public and showcased support for free speech in broadcasting. 

Public reaction is mixed; while many audience members believe Kimmel crossed the line, others feel he has been unfairly punished for a comedic component of a television show. 

What’s Next for Jimmy Kimmel’s Show?

While ABC did not provide an update in respect of a timeline for returning Jimmy Kimmel Live! to the air, Kimmel himself has not issued a public comment with respect to the suspension. In the meantime, ABC will use the time period that was dedicated to Jimmy Kimmel Live! to show reruns and other programming. 

While the controversy brings up free speech and accountability by the network, there are clear questions of oversight, as networks attempt to address pressure by both the government and the television audiences.