- ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel’s show indefinitely after comments on Charlie Kirk’s death.
- Kimmel’s comments about Charlie Kirk drew backlash, including condemnation from FCC chair Brendan Carr.
- An ABC spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider that the show would be pre-empted “indefinitely.”
ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel off the air “indefinitely” over his Charlie Kirk comments.
A spokesperson of ABC confirmed to Business Insider that the show will be pulled off the air “indefinitely.”
The decision follows comments Kimmel made on Monday’s show.
“We had some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,” Kimmel said.
The backlash intensified after Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr publicly condemned Kimmel’s comments, calling them “the sickest conduct possible.” In an interview with YouTuber Benny Johnson, Carr also warned that affiliate licenses could come under review, and that broadcasters are required to operate “in the public interest.”
“I want to thank Nexstar for doing the right thing,” Carr said in a statement to Business Insider after the news that ABC had pulled the show. “Local broadcasters have an obligation to serve the public interest. While this may be an unprecedented decision, it is important for broadcasters to push back on Disney programming that they determine falls short of community values. I hope that other broadcasters follow Nexstar’s lead. “
Following Carr’s comments, Nexstar said in a statement Wednesday that it would replace Kimmel’s show with alternate programming, and that the company “strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk.”
Some context: Nexstar is seeking FCC approval for its $6.2 billion mega deal to acquire TEGNA, which would come with 13 ABC stations and make Nexstar by far the country’s biggest local TV station owner. The FCC would have to raise the 40% ownership cap to let the deal advance.
The suspension of Kimmel’s show is the latest example of a company taking action against an employee in connection with comments about Kirk. In this case, the comments concerned the alleged killer.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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