Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show on ABC has been suspended indefinitely following his controversial monologue mocking the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, prompting major ABC affiliates to drop the program and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to threaten regulatory action against the network. Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was killed in a shooting, with 22-year-old suspect Tyler Robinson charged with aggravated murder; evidence shows Robinson had left-leaning views, contradicting Kimmel’s on-air suggestion that the killer aligned with MAGA supporters and that conservatives were deflecting blame. Reports also indicate a romantic relationship with his roommate who is a transexual. Nexstar and Sinclair, the largest ABC station groups, immediately preempted “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from their stations, citing the remarks as insensitive and a breach of broadcast standards, while ABC followed suit to avoid broader fallout. This marks a rare instance of a major network yielding to affiliate pressure and federal warnings, effectively sidelining Kimmel amid his show’s declining ratings.
Kimmel’s Controversial Remarks
During the September 15, 2025, episode, Kimmel addressed Kirk’s death by implying the suspect’s motives tied to MAGA ideology, sarcastically noting how conservatives portrayed the shooter as unrelated to their movement despite evidence pointing otherwise. He mocked the Kirk family’s statements and Turning Point USA’s narrative, calling it a deflection from “the MAGA gang’s” responsibility, which drew immediate backlash for being callous during national mourning. Critics, including Carr, labeled the comments as “sickest conduct possible” and misleading, arguing they violated broadcasters’ public interest obligations by promoting partisan lies over facts. Sinclair demanded Kimmel apologize directly to the Kirk family and donate to Turning Point USA, replacing his slot with a Kirk tribute special.
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FCC Intervention Role
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, appearing on conservative outlets like Sean Hannity and Benny Johnson, defended the affiliates’ actions and warned ABC of potential fines or license reviews for airing such content, emphasizing broadcasters’ duty to serve communities without “narrow partisan circus.” He stated companies could “change conduct” on Kimmel voluntarily or face “additional work for the FCC,” leveraging the agency’s oversight on affiliates amid pending mergers like Nexstar’s acquisition of Tegna. Carr highlighted the FCC’s renewed enforcement under Trump to curb biased programming, contrasting it with cable’s looser rules and praising the moves as unprecedented accountability. This pressure, tied to Disney’s ESPN-NFL deal needing approval, amplified the affiliates’ decisions without direct FCC mandates.
Network and Affiliate Response
Nexstar announced it would preempt Kimmel “for the foreseeable future” across its 32 ABC stations, citing the need for professionalism post-Carr’s remarks, while Sinclair suspended airing until ABC committed to accountability standards. ABC’s indefinite suspension came hours later, confirming no firings but halting production as affiliates control local broadcasts under FCC licenses. President Trump celebrated the outcome on Truth Social, calling Kimmel talentless and predicting similar fates for hosts like Jimmy Fallon, framing it as a win against failing anti-conservative propaganda.
