Suspension of Jimmy Kimmel
The indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel by ABC, triggered by his inaccurate and offensive comments regarding Charlie Kirk's murder, leading to a broader discussion on cancel culture and media accountability.
First Mentioned
9/20/2025, 2:33:44 AM
Last Updated
9/20/2025, 2:40:18 AM
Research Retrieved
9/20/2025, 2:40:17 AM
Summary
The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel by ABC was an indefinite action taken on September 17, 2025, following comments he made regarding the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025. Kimmel's alleged false accusation against the MAGA movement led to significant backlash. This move was reportedly influenced by pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), specifically under Brendan Carr, and major network affiliates such as NextStar and Sinclair Broadcast Group, who announced they would preempt his show. The incident sparked widespread debate about free speech, censorship, and cancel culture, with various late-night hosts and political figures, including Donald Trump, weighing in. The All-In Podcast discussed this event as part of a broader analysis of political violence, media consolidation, and the decline of civil discourse, linking it to themes like online radicalization and the 'Suicide of the West'. Protests against the suspension occurred on September 18, 2025, outside the show's studio.
Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
Status
Indefinite
Network
ABC
Event Type
Suspension of a TV show host
Primary Cause
Comments made by Jimmy Kimmel regarding the murder of Charlie Kirk and alleged false accusation against the MAGA movement
Host Suspended
Jimmy Kimmel
Public Reaction
Protests, debate among late-night hosts
Political Reaction
Donald Trump applauded ABC's decision
Influencing Factors
Pressure from FCC (Brendan Carr), Nexstar, Sinclair Broadcast Group
Key Themes Discussed
Free speech, censorship, cancel culture, political violence, media consolidation, decline of civil discourse, Woke Ideology
Timeline
- Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed while speaking at Utah Valley University. (Source: web_search_results)
2025-09-10
- Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show, 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', was pulled from the air indefinitely by ABC, hours after the U.S. government threatened to cancel broadcasting licenses due to Kimmel's comments about Charlie Kirk's death. (Source: web_search_results)
2025-09-17
- Nexstar announced it would indefinitely preempt Kimmel's show on all its stations. (Source: web_search_results)
2025-09-17
- Sinclair Broadcast Group also announced it was pulling Jimmy Kimmel's show. (Source: web_search_results)
2025-09-17
- Demonstrators rallied to protest the suspension of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' outside the studio in California. (Source: web_search_results)
2025-09-18
Web Search Results
- Kimmel suspension over Kirk comments raises free speech questions
Demonstrators hold signs as they rally to protest the suspension of the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" show outside the studio from where the show is broadcast in California on Sept. 18, 2025. Kimmel's late-night show was pulled from the air on September 17 hours after the U.S. government threatened to cancel broadcasting licenses because of comments the host made about the killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption [...] Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images Comedian Jimmy Kimmel being pulled off the air has taken the conversation around freedom of speech to a new level after the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10 as he spoke to a crowd of mostly students at Utah Valley University. It's a pivotal moment with a lot of layers and important questions facing the country. They center on power, money, charges of hypocrisy and the direction of American democracy itself. [...] Accessibility links Keyboard shortcuts for audio player Kimmel suspension over Kirk comments raises free speech questions After Jimmy Kimmel's show was suspended "indefinitely" for comments he made following Charlie Kirk's death, questions about free speech and just what is government censorship reach heightened levels. #### Analysis ### Politics # Kimmel's suspension for Kirk comments sparks furor over free speech and censorship Heard on All Things Considered Domenico Montanaro
- 4 things to know about ABC's suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's late ...
NEW YORK (AP) — ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show off the air, indefinitely — an unprecedented move that followed backlash from affiliated broadcasters and the head of the Federal Communications Commission over the comic’s remarks after last week’s killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. [...] Kimmel’s suspension comes alongside wider efforts by Trump and other conservatives to police speech following Kirk’s killing. It also marks the Trump administration’s latest effort to influence the U.S. media landscape. In a post on his Truth Social platform Wednesday night, Trump applauded ABC for “finally having the courage to do what had to be done” and claimed that Kimmel “has ZERO talent” — focusing on what he said were bad ratings, while also lambasting other names in late-night TV. [...] ABC, which has aired “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” since 2003, did not immediately explain why it suspended the show on Wednesday. But its announcement came after both Nexstar and Sinclair said they would stop airing Kimmel’s show on their ABC-affiliated stations.
- Why was Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show suspended ... - AP News
Kimmel’s suspension comes alongside wider efforts by Trump and other conservatives to police speech following Kirk’s killing. It also marks the Trump administration’s latest effort to influence the U.S. media landscape. In a post on his Truth Social platform Wednesday night, Trump applauded ABC for “finally having the courage to do what had to be done” and claimed that Kimmel “has ZERO talent” — focusing on what he said were bad ratings, while also lambasting other names in late-night TV. [...] NEW YORK (AP) — ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show off the air, indefinitely — an unprecedented move that followed backlash from affiliated broadcasters and the head of the Federal Communications Commission over the comic’s remarks after last week’s killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. [...] A U.S. flag is carried across a street in front of a demonstration in response to the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show outside of Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) 2 of 5 A U.S. flag is carried across a street in front of a demonstration in response to the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show outside of Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Share
- Late-night hosts skewer Jimmy Kimmel suspension with humor and ...
Kimmel's show was "preempted indefinitely" by ABC on Wednesday following comments he made about the reaction to Kirk's killing on Monday and Tuesday nights. The suspension came after media giant Nexstar announced in a news release that it would indefinitely preempt Kimmel's show on all its stations due to the host's remarks. Sinclair Broadcast Group, another major station owner, also said it was pulling the show. [...] Jon Stewart, who made a special appearance to skewer Kimmel's suspension, opted for satire to critique ABC for suspending "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" indefinitely following comments Kimmel made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Stephen Colbert, whose show was canceled by CBS two months ago,called Kimmel's suspension "blatant censorship." [...] Meanwhile, NBC's Jimmy Fallon praised Kimmel and vowed to keep doing his own show as usual. Then an announcer spoke over him and replaced most of his critiques about President Trump with flattery. Their guests the day after Kimmel's suspension varied widely. Fallon's guests were actor Jude Law, journalist Tom Llamas and actor and singer Jonathan Groff — none of whom addressed Kimmel's situation. 1/1 Skip Ad Continue watching after the adImage 2: Loading PodsVisit Advertiser websiteGO TO PAGE
- How Other Late-Night Hosts Responded to Jimmy Kimmel's ...
# How Stephen Colbert and Other Late-Night Hosts Responded to Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension ## The Brief September 19, 2025 Reactions to Kimmel's suspension, Trump publicly rebukes Putin, and more Length: Long Speed: 1.0x Jimmy Kimmel may have been silenced by ABC on Wednesday, when the network indefinitely suspended the comedian’s late-night show after apparent pressure from the Trump Administration, but his fellow hosts weren’t quiet about it on their late-night shows. Advertisement [...] Advertisement He ended the segment with a heartfelt message: “It is a privilege and an honor to call Jimmy Kimmel my friend, in the same way that it’s a privilege and honor to do this show every night,” he said. Reacting to Kimmel’s suspension on Wednesday, Trump had posted on Truth Social: “That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC,” referring to Meyers and his network colleague Jimmy Fallon. “Do it NBC!!!” Trump urged.