Jimmy Kimmel pulled
Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show is currently on hiatus.
An ABC spokesperson confirmed to NBC News on September 17 that "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will be "pre-empted indefinitely" following the late-night host’s monologue on September 15, which included remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer.
Kimmel stated during the show, "The MAGA gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything possible to score political points from it."
Tyler Robinson, 22, was taken into custody on September 12 after authorities reported that he turned himself in. He has been charged with aggravated murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Kirk, 31, at Utah Valley University on September 10. Following his arrest, authorities released alleged text messages from Robinson in which he expressed that he targeted Kirk because he had "had enough of his hatred."
In a September 17 interview, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr criticized Kimmel’s monologue, calling it “the sickest conduct possible.” He warned that the FCC might “take action” against ABC and its parent company, Disney, emphasizing that the FCC has the authority to revoke the licenses of ABC affiliates.
Nexstar Media Group Inc., which operates over 200 television stations throughout the United States, announced shortly thereafter that its ABC affiliates would "preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the foreseeable future, commencing with tonight's show." ABC subsequently terminated the program.
In the interim, Kimmel, who has been the presenter of the late-night show since 2003, has refrained from making any public statements subsequent to ABC's decision to suspend his program. Nevertheless, he did offer a pleading for the nation in response to Kirk's demise.
“Instead of the angry finger-pointing,” the 57-year-old shared in a Sept. 10 statement on Instagram, “can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human?”
Kimmel extended his condolences to Erika Frantzve Kirk, the wife of the Turning Point USA cofounder, and their two young children. He stated, “On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents, and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.”