Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is under fire after his recent comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination stirred backlash from both political and regulatory circles. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has been suspended indefinitely by ABC. What exactly happened, and why is his show off the air? Here’s what is known so far.
What Kimmel Said, What Triggered It
On September 15, 2025, Jimmy Kimmel delivered a monologue focused on how some conservative figures reacted to the killing of Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist who was fatally shot earlier that month. In that monologue, Kimmel said:
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
He went on to criticize what he saw as hypocrisy in how political leaders responded emotionally to Kirk’s death, implying that some reactions were more about optics and political gains than genuine grief.
These remarks were seen by many as provocative because at the time, as authorities have stated, no official motive or political affiliation for the shooter had been confirmed that would tie him to any political movement.
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The Backlash and Suspension
The fallout was swift:
ABC, which airs Jimmy Kimmel Live!, announced that the show would be suspended indefinitely.
Nexstar Media Group, a major group of ABC affiliates, said it would pull the show from its 32 stations, calling Kimmel’s comments “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse.”
Sinclair Broadcast Group, another large affiliate operator, also declared it would stop airing the show, and demanded that Kimmel issue a direct apology to Charlie Kirk’s family and make a donation to Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk led.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr spoke out too. He labeled Kimmel’s remarks misleading, and warned that there might be regulatory consequences for ABC and Disney (which owns ABC) if appropriate action wasn’t taken.
In short: Kimmel’s critique touched off major political and regulatory pressure, prompting ABC to suspend his show. Critics say the suspension represents an overreach or censorship; supporters argue that broadcasters and hosts must be held accountable when making claims about political motives in such sensitive contexts.
Claims & Disputes
Some of Kimmel’s claims have been disputed or remain unverified:
He accused “MAGA” or pro-Trump factions of trying to dissociate the shooter from that political identity, and said they were “working very hard to capitalize on the murder.” But police and family statements have not publicly confirmed any political motive for the shooter, or that he identified as “MAGA.”
Because motive and political affiliation are still under investigation, many argue that some of Kimmel’s statements were presuppositions rather than established facts.
Political & Public Reaction
Reaction has come from many directions:
President Donald Trump praised ABC’s decision to suspend the show, calling Kimmel’s remarks “horrible” and saying the suspension was overdue.
On the other hand, various journalists, free speech groups, Democrats, and media observers have raised concerns that this sets a dangerous precedent where political or regulatory pressure leads to removal or censorship of media content.
Some affiliates and broadcasters say local community standards or values were violated by Kimmel’s tone or content. Others say the network needed to act to avoid legal or regulatory risk.
What This Means Going Forward
Jimmy Kimmel Live! is off the air for now, with no announced return date.
There are questions about how much regulatory pressure from entities like the FCC is influencing content decisions in media especially when politically charged commentary is involved.
This situation highlights the tension between free speech, political criticism, and responsibility in media. When someone makes claims about political motives without verified evidence, the fallout can be significant.