ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live off the air “indefinitely,” following a cascade of backlash over the late-night host’s comments about the killing of conservative figure Charlie Kirk.
The decision came down swiftly and publicly. “Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely,” an ABC spokesperson told reporters—a move that left media circles reeling and MAGA world celebrating.
This all spiraled after Nexstar, which runs ABC-affiliated stations across the country, announced it would not air Kimmel’s show “for the foreseeable future,” citing “comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk.” Nexstar’s president of broadcast, Andrew Alford, didn’t mince words, calling Kimmel’s remarks “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse.”
To be clear: Kimmel didn’t suggest Kirk’s alleged shooter was a MAGA supporter. What he did say was, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with 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.”
That line lit a match. And the blowback from the right was immediate and brutal.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr jumped into the fray, threatening ABC’s broadcasting license during an interview with far-right YouTuber Benny Johnson. Carr accused Kimmel of pushing a “narrative” that the shooter was MAGA-aligned—despite the fact that the monologue never actually makes that claim. But Carr wasn’t having it. He thanked Nexstar on X for “doing the right thing” and made it clear he was keeping the pressure on.
Behind the scenes, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Kimmel was planning to address the controversy on Wednesday night’s episode—offering context, not contrition. A source close to the show said the host “was not planning on apologizing and did not believe an apology for the monologue was warranted.”
ABC’s parent company Disney reportedly made the call after Nexstar’s refusal to air the program essentially kneecapped its syndication footprint. Within hours, Jimmy Kimmel Live was yanked.
Authorities have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with Kirk’s killing. Prosecutors say Robinson told his roommate—who was transitioning—that he “had enough” of Kirk’s “hatred.” It’s not a political mystery wrapped in ideology. It’s a shooting with very personal—and now deeply politicized—undertones.
None of that stopped the celebratory gloating online.
“We did it for you, Charlie. And we’re just getting started…” wrote Benny Johnson, sharing an old clip of Kirk saying “Jimmy Kimmel isn’t funny.”
In other words: This wasn’t just about Kimmel. It was about a long-sought win for the right in the culture war. And they’re treating it like blood on the scoreboard.
Whether Kimmel returns—and under what conditions—remains a massive question. But for now, the stage is dark, the cameras are off, and late-night just lost one of its loudest voices. Indefinitely.
This is sick. @jimmykimmel is explicitly stating that MAGA killed Charlie Kirk and is victim blaming the assassination on Charlie’s movement. It’s definitionally evil and a malicious lie. Kimmel must be held accountable. pic.twitter.com/PznwF4lgQl
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 17, 2025
