ABC has indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live following remarks made by the host regarding Donald Trump’s response to Charlie Kirk’s death. A spokesperson for the network, which is part of Disney, announced on September 17 that the show would be “pre-empted indefinitely.”
During the September 15 episode, Kimmel criticized the right-wing response to Kirk’s murder, stating, “The MAGA Gang is desperately attempting to paint this kid, who killed Charlie Kirk, as anything but one of their own, doing everything possible to score political points.” He further condemned Trump’s reaction, saying, “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of a friend; it resembles how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
On September 16, Kimmel claimed that “many in MAGA land are working hard to take advantage of Charlie Kirk’s murder,” and he challenged JD Vance’s claim about political violence, referencing the January 6 Capitol riots and asking, “Who wanted to hang the previous vice president? The liberal left or the mob that stormed the Capitol?”
This decision to suspend Kimmel came after Nexstar Media, a major television station owner, announced it would not broadcast Jimmy Kimmel Live due to the offensive nature of his comments. Sinclair Group, the largest ABC affiliate, followed suit, describing Kimmel’s remarks as “inappropriate and deeply insensitive.” They also planned to air a special about Charlie Kirk in place of Kimmel’s show on September 19.
Public Reaction to Kimmel’s Suspension
In response to the suspension, Trump called it “Great News for America” on Truth Social, highlighting Kimmel’s low ratings and criticizing his talent. He expressed support for ABC’s decision to cancel the show.
Conversely, California Governor Gavin Newsom defended Kimmel, asserting that media censorship under the Trump administration is a coordinated threat to free speech. He remarked on social media, “There is no such thing as free speech under Donald Trump’s reign.”
From within the Hollywood community, actor Ben Stiller expressed disapproval of the suspension, and Jean Smart emphasized that Kimmel’s comments constituted free speech, not hate speech. Comedian Mike Birbiglia urged fellow comedians to support Kimmel, stating, “If you’re a comedian and don’t call out the insanity of pulling Kimmel off the air, you shouldn’t discuss free speech anymore.”
As of now, Kimmel has not publicly commented on the suspension.
