Disney-owned ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show off the air indefinitely, following backlash over his recent remarks about the suspected killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely,” an ABC spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday, without providing further details. A representative for Kimmel did not immediately comment.
The surprise move came just hours after FCC Chair Brendan Carr, a Trump administration appointee, publicly urged Disney to take action against Kimmel, even suggesting that ABC affiliates could risk their licenses if the company failed to act. Carr told right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson that the FCC was prepared to pursue penalties. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr warned, signaling possible regulatory consequences.
The pressure triggered a domino effect. At least two major broadcasters that own ABC-affiliated stations—Nexstar and Sinclair—said they would preempt Kimmel’s program. Both companies currently have merger deals or regulatory requests pending before the Trump administration, fueling speculation that their swift action was aimed at winning political favor.
As Kimmel prepared to tape his Wednesday show in Hollywood, ABC made the decision to suspend it nationwide, shocking the entertainment industry and sparking an immediate debate about political pressure on media companies.
Free speech advocates condemned the network’s move as an act of capitulation. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump celebrated the decision from the UK, where he is on a state visit. Posting on Truth Social, Trump praised ABC for “finally having the courage to do what had to be done,” while mocking other late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers as “losers” with “horrible ratings.”
The controversy stemmed from Kimmel’s Monday night monologue, in which he accused the MAGA movement of politicizing Kirk’s killing. “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.
Carr denounced those comments as “the sickest conduct possible” and hinted that broadcasters unwilling to comply with the FCC’s interpretation of public interest obligations could surrender their licenses. On Fox News later that evening, he warned that such scrutiny of broadcasters would intensify going forward.
Anna Gomez, the FCC’s lone Democratic commissioner, sharply criticized Carr’s stance, saying the administration was misusing government power to suppress lawful expression. “The First Amendment does not allow us, the FCC, to tell broadcasters what they can broadcast,” Gomez told CNN, warning that the episode sets a dangerous precedent for press freedom.
The uproar also drew in local broadcasters. Nexstar, which operates more than 20 ABC affiliates, announced it would replace Kimmel’s show with alternative programming. The company is currently seeking regulatory approval for a merger with Tegna. Sinclair, which also has interests before the FCC, quickly followed with a similar move, pledging to air a one-hour tribute to Kirk in Kimmel’s usual slot.
The indefinite suspension underscores how politically charged commentary has become in the aftermath of Kirk’s murder, raising broader concerns about censorship, media independence, and the extent of government influence over broadcast outlets.
