ABC has suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely after host Jimmy Kimmel made controversial remarks regarding the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The network confirmed the suspension late Wednesday, stating that the show will be “pre-empted indefinitely,” but did not provide further details on whether or when the program will return.
The move came after Kimmel, during a recent monologue, accused conservatives of using Kirk’s death for political purposes.
He said, “the MAGA gang [is] 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.”
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr condemned the remarks, calling them “some of the sickest conduct possible.” Carr also suggested that stations airing the program could face regulatory consequences, including potential challenges to broadcast licenses.
In response, Nexstar Media Group—the largest operator of local television stations in the United States and owner of dozens of ABC affiliates—announced that it would stop airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! “for the foreseeable future.”
Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, described Kimmel’s comments as offensive and said the decision reflected the company’s responsibility to its audiences.
Following Nexstar’s announcement, ABC confirmed the program’s suspension across its network. The company did not elaborate on internal discussions leading up to the decision and declined to provide a timeline for when or if the show might return.
As of Thursday, representatives for Jimmy Kimmel have not issued a public comment on the suspension. ABC has also not announced what programming will take over the late-night time slot while Jimmy Kimmel Live! remains off the air.
