Jimmy Kimmel was temporarily taken off the air by ABC following comments he made about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. On his show, the 57-year-old presenter discussed the killing of Kirk and accused President Donald Trump and his “MAGA gang” of “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them” and of “working very hard to capitalize on the murder.”
[embedded content]
His comments sparked a strong conservative backlash. Two of ABC’s largest affiliate owners, Nexstar and Sinclair, announced they would stop airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! on their stations and faced with this pressure, ABC suspended the show indefinitely on September 17.
Kimmell is back
Jimmy Kimmel’s show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, will be back on air tonight (Tuesday, September 23) with ABC claiming: “We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”
However, two of ABC’s largest affiliate owners, Nexstar and Sinclair, have announced that they will continue to preempt the show on their stations. This means that while the show is back on ABC, it may not be available in all markets where those affiliates operate.
The return comes after a week-long suspension following comments Kimmel made about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Sinclair and Nexstar say ‘no’
Both ABC affiliates have issued statements saying they object to Kimmel’s comments about the killing of Charlie Kirk. Nexstar, in its statement, said it “strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk” and that they are “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse.” They don’t believe his comments “reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities” they serve.
Breaking News: Nexstar and Sinclair, which control over 20% of ABC affiliates, will not broadcast Jimmy Kimmel’s TV return tonight. https://t.co/H09crVFgrS
— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 23, 2025
Related stories
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
