In a move that has sent shockwaves through both the entertainment and political worlds, ABC has indefinitely pulled Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show off the air following the comedian’s controversial remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The decision, announced on September 17, 2025, underscores the intensifying battle over free speech, political influence, and the role of media in America’s fractious public discourse.
The trouble began during Kimmel’s Monday night monologue on September 15, when he addressed the tragic shooting of Kirk, a prominent right-wing influencer. Kimmel, known for his pointed humor and willingness to wade into political waters, accused the “MAGA gang” of trying to “score political points” from Kirk’s death. “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,” Kimmel said, as reported by BBC and CNN. He further mocked President Donald Trump’s response to the tragedy, quipping, “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
Almost immediately, Kimmel’s comments became a flashpoint. Pro-Trump websites and television shows began lambasting the late-night host, and the controversy quickly leapt from the world of entertainment into the realm of politics and regulation. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by Trump appointee Brendan Carr, weighed in with striking force. Carr, speaking to right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson, called Kimmel’s monologue “the sickest conduct possible” and publicly pressured ABC to take action. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said. “These companies can find ways to change conduct and take actions on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
As the storm intensified, two of the nation’s largest owners of ABC-affiliated stations took dramatic steps. Nexstar Media, which operates about two dozen ABC affiliates and is currently seeking FCC approval for a major merger, announced that it would not air Jimmy Kimmel Live! “for the foreseeable future beginning with tonight’s show.” Nexstar President Andrew Alford explained, “We do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located.” Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest ABC affiliate group in the U.S., followed suit, declaring it would preempt Kimmel’s show and instead air a special remembrance program for Kirk on September 19. Sinclair further demanded a direct apology from Kimmel to the Kirk family and a “meaningful” donation to Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA.
ABC’s own announcement was terse but decisive: “Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely.” The network declined to elaborate further, and Kimmel himself was seen leaving the Hollywood studio in a flannel shirt and cap, declining to comment to the press. Fans who had queued for the show’s taping expressed dismay. Janna Blackwell, visiting from Virginia, told BBC, “You know, this is getting ridiculous and stupid. Freedom of speech. He shared his opinion and is being cancelled. To me that is bizarre.”
The reaction from President Trump was swift and celebratory. From the United Kingdom, where he was on a state visit, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: “Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.” He later added, “The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.” Trump also took the opportunity to needle other late-night hosts, writing, “That leaves Jimmy (Fallon) and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!”
Not surprisingly, the entertainment industry and free speech advocates were quick to condemn ABC’s decision. The Writers Guild of America (WGA), Hollywood’s powerful labor union, issued a statement decrying the suspension as a violation of constitutional free speech rights: “Shame on those in government who forget this founding truth.” SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, echoed this sentiment, saying, “The decision to suspend airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! is the type of suppression and retaliation that endangers everyone’s freedoms.” Prominent Hollywood figures including Ben Stiller, Jean Smart, Jamie Lee Curtis, John Legend, Josh Gad, and Alison Brie also voiced support for Kimmel, with Smart writing on Instagram, “What Jimmy said was free speech, not hate speech.”
The controversy has also exposed deep divisions within the FCC itself. While Carr, the commission’s chair, has adopted an aggressive stance—suggesting the FCC could revoke ABC affiliate licenses if the network did not act—Anna Gomez, the lone Democratic commissioner, has pushed back forcefully. Gomez wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “An inexcusable act of political violence by one disturbed individual must never be exploited as justification for broader censorship or control.” Speaking with CNN’s Erin Burnett, Gomez added, “The First Amendment does not allow us, the FCC, to tell broadcasters what they can broadcast. He did not make any unfounded claims, but he did make a joke, one that others may even find crude, but that is neither illegal nor grounds for companies to capitulate to this administration in ways that violate the First Amendment.”
Advocacy groups have also entered the fray. The Center for American Rights filed a formal complaint with the FCC, arguing that Kimmel’s comments “fail to meet public-interest standards” and that satire or comedy is no defense. “ABC’s affiliates need to step up and hold ABC accountable as a network for passing through material that fails to respect the public-interest standard to which they are held,” wrote Daniel Suhr, the organization’s president.
This episode comes at a time when the late-night television landscape is already in flux. In July, CBS announced it would end The Late Show With Stephen Colbert after 11 seasons, a move the network insisted was unrelated to performance or content. However, Colbert himself criticized the decision and alluded to a recent multimillion-dollar settlement with Donald Trump over a 60 Minutes interview, highlighting the fraught relationship between media companies and the former president.
As of now, Kimmel has not been fired outright, according to sources familiar with the situation, but ABC executives are expected to meet with him to discuss his future on the network. Meanwhile, a small protest gathered outside the Jimmy Kimmel Live! studio, with signs demanding “Trump must go now,” reflecting the passionate feelings the incident has stirred on both sides.
For many, the saga raises uncomfortable questions about where the line lies between satire and offense, and how much influence political actors should wield over media companies. As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the intersection of politics, media, and free speech in America has never been more contentious—or more consequential.
