Jimmy Kimmel's show has been pulled off the air “indefinitely” after the host’s comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, a right-wing influencer known for his passionate stances on conservative issues and outspoken opposition to gun control, was fatally shot during a campus speech at Utah Valley University last Wednesday.
Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from Utah, has been charged in connection with the crime, facing multiple charges, including murder. Prosecutors have already indicated that they will seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted.
What did Jimmy Kimmel say?
During Monday's (September 15) night segment of Jimmy Kimmel Live, the 57-year-old host appeared to suggest that Robinson could be aligned with the pro-Trump movement.
“The MAGA Gang [is] 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.
The remark quickly drew condemnation from the president's allies and officials.
According to the BBC, FCC commissioner Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, described Kimmel’s segment as “the sickest conduct possible” and accused him of trying to “play into a narrative that this was somehow a MAGA or Republican motivated person," per The Guardian.
Speaking on the conservative Benny Show podcast, Carr said broadcasters have “an obligation to operate in the public interest” and urged Disney - the parent company of ABC, which distributes Kimmel’s show - to take disciplinary action.
He called an apology “a very reasonable, minimal step,” and warned that failure to act could trigger further FCC scrutiny.
“It’s long past the time that a lot of these licensed broadcasters themselves… say: ‘We’re not gonna run Kimmel any more ... because we licensed broadcasters are running the possibility of fines, or licensed revocation from the FCC,'” he added.
Kimmel doubled down on his comments
The following day, Kimmel doubled down, stating that “many in MAGA-land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk”.
He also criticized Vice President JD Vance, who had guest-hosted Kirk’s podcast: “The president and his henchmen are doing their best to fan the flames, so they can, I guess, attack people on the dangerous left."
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Kimmel was preparing to address the controversy on Wednesday’s show, but the episode was pulled before airing.
ABC confirmed to several publications that the late-night show will be “pre-empted indefinitely".
A person familiar with the situation revealed that Kimmel has not been fired and that executives plan to speak with him before he returns to air.
The source added that the host was not intending to apologize on Wednesday's episode but wanted to clarify his remarks, which he believes have been taken out of context.
Critics call it censorship and retaliation
The move to suspend Kimmel has sparked backlash from Hollywood unions and Democratic officials, who argue it sets a dangerous precedent for free speech.
Democratic Senator Ed Markey accused the FCC of political censorship on X: "This is censorship in action. @FCC chair threatens ABC and Disney over Kimmel’s comments.
"Hours later, he’s off air. It’s dangerous and unconstitutional."
"The message to every media company is clear: Adopt the MAGA line or the Federal Censorship Commission will come after you," he added.
Anna Gomez, the only Democratic FCC commissioner, also criticized Carr’s comments, saying: “An inexcusable act of political violence by one disturbed individual must never be exploited as justification for broader censorship or control.”
The Writers Guild of America called Kimmel’s removal a violation of First Amendment rights: “Shame on those in government who forget this founding truth,” the union said in a statement.
"As a Guild, we stand united in opposition to anyone who uses their power and influence to silence the voices of writers, or anyone who speaks in dissent.
"If free speech applied only to ideas we like, we needn't have bothered to write it into the Constitution," they added.
SAG-AFTRA echoed the sentiment, labeling the decision “the type of suppression and retaliation that endangers everyone's freedoms”.
Kimmel now joins a growing list of late-night hosts facing uncertain futures amid political pressure and changing industry economics.
In July, CBS announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would end next year, though it claimed the move had nothing to do with “performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount”.
Colbert publicly rebuked the network, referencing CBS's legal settlement with Trump and a separate $16m defamation payout by Disney - both linked to politically sensitive interviews conducted by high-profile anchors.
As speculation swirls around Kimmel’s return, the controversy underscores the alarming intersection of comedy, politics, and broadcast regulation in the 2024 media landscape.