ABC Pulls Jimmy Kimmel Off Air After Remarks on Charlie Kirk

• Sep 18, 2025

ABC has suspended late-night host Jimmy Kimmel indefinitely following controversial remarks he made about the shooting of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. The decision marks a major development in the fallout surrounding Kimmel’s comments, which have drawn sharp criticism.

In a statement shared with the BBC, a spokesperson for ABC’s parent company, Disney, confirmed the move. “Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely,” the spokesperson said, without offering details on when or if the show might return.

Kimmel made the remarks on Monday, saying that allies of former President Donald Trump were “doing everything they can to score political points from” Kirk’s death. His comments came just days after the shooting that left the 30-year-old right-wing activist dead.

A 22-year-old suspect has since been charged with aggravated murder and appeared in court on Tuesday, less than a week after the attack. The case has fueled widespread debate, with strong political reactions across the country.

The backlash intensified after Nexstar Media Group, one of the largest owners of television stations in the United States, announced that it would no longer broadcast Jimmy Kimmel Live! “for the foreseeable future.” The company said on Wednesday that the comedian’s remarks about Kirk “are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse.”

Kimmel, who has hosted the late-night program since 2003, is no stranger to controversy, but this episode has sparked unusually swift action from both ABC and major broadcasting partners. The indefinite suspension signals growing sensitivity among networks over politically charged comments, especially in the wake of tragedies that touch on national divisions.

The incident highlights the delicate balance broadcasters face in managing free expression by their hosts while avoiding remarks that could be seen as inflammatory during moments of national mourning or political tension.

For now, ABC has not announced plans for a replacement host or guest programming, leaving viewers uncertain about the show’s future. What remains clear is that Kimmel’s comments have set off one of the most significant disruptions in his two-decade-long career.