ABC has suspended late-night host Jimmy Kimmel indefinitely following controversial comments he made about the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The Disney-owned network announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be “pre-empted indefinitely,” sparking a national debate over freedom of speech and political influence on broadcasting.
The suspension came after Kimmel, during his Monday monologue, accused “the Maga gang” of exploiting Kirk’s murder for political gain. He also mocked President Donald Trump’s public grieving, saying it resembled “how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.” The remarks drew swift backlash from conservative groups and prompted praise from Trump, who described the suspension as “great news for America.”
Kimmel has long been a critic of Trump and right-wing politics, but his latest comments coincided with heightened tensions following Kirk’s killing. A 22-year-old suspect has since been charged with aggravated murder. While Kimmel offered condolences to Kirk’s family on Instagram immediately after the shooting, his on-air comments reignited partisan divides over media responsibility.
The decision to pull Kimmel’s show was backed by major broadcast affiliates. Nexstar Media, one of the largest TV station owners in the US, said it would no longer air the program “for the foreseeable future,” calling his remarks “offensive and insensitive at a critical time.” Sinclair Broadcast Group also announced it would replace Kimmel’s slot with a remembrance special for Kirk.
Regulators also weighed in. Brendan Carr, a Trump-appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), condemned Kimmel’s comments as “the sickest conduct possible” and urged Disney to act. He argued broadcasters have a duty to operate “in the public interest.” However, Anna Gomez, the only Democratic FCC commissioner, criticized Carr’s position, warning that political violence should not be used as a pretext for censorship.
The suspension has triggered backlash in Hollywood. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Sag-Aftra both condemned ABC’s move, calling it an attack on constitutional free speech rights. “Shame on those in government who forget this founding truth,” the WGA said, while Sag-Aftra warned of “suppression and retaliation that endangers everyone’s freedoms.”
Meanwhile, fans gathered outside Kimmel’s Los Angeles studio expressed disappointment at the show’s abrupt cancellation. Some described the move as “bizarre” and an example of “cancel culture,” arguing that Kimmel was punished for sharing his opinion. A small protest also formed, with signs calling for Trump’s removal.
Though ABC has not fired Kimmel, insiders say executives plan to meet with him before any return to air. The suspension comes at a turbulent moment for late-night television, as traditional viewership declines and political tensions increasingly spill into entertainment. For now, Kimmel remains off air, at the center of a controversy over free expression, media accountability, and the boundaries of political satire.
