Jimmy Kimmel suspended over ‘offensive’ Charlie Kirk comments
The talk show host accused “the MAGA gang” of trying to score political points over the conservative activist’s murder
US comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show has been pulled off the air indefinitely over comments he made about the assassination of conservative organizer and podcaster Charlie Kirk.
Nexstar Media Group said on Wednesday that its stations affiliated with ABC will “preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the foreseeable future beginning with tonight’s show.”
“Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located,” said Andrew Alford, head of Nexstar’s broadcasting division.
Airing Kimmel’s show is “simply not in the public interest at the current time,” Alford added, saying the decision was made “in an effort to let cooler heads prevail as we move toward the resumption of respectful, constructive dialogue.” A spokesperson for ABC later confirmed that Kimmel’s show will be pulled indefinitely.
Kirk was killed by a sniper on September 10 while speaking to students at a college in Utah. Prosecutors charged Tyler Robinson with the murder, saying his own family described his views as left-leaning and pro-LGBTQ. According to prosecutors, the suspect confessed to killing Kirk in text messages to his transgender romantic partner.
???? MAJOR BREAKING: Now, Disney ABC is CANCELING Jimmy Kimmel "INDEFINITELY" due to him lying that the Charlie Kirk assassin was MAGA, per WSJ.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 17, 2025
This came right after the ABC affiliates canceled Kimmel via Nexstar.
FAFO, LOSER! pic.twitter.com/gGjwtzvdMX
During his opening monologue on Monday, Kimmel said, “We hit 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.”
He went on to accuse conservatives of “doing everything they can to score political points” and mocked comments US President Donald Trump gave to the media.
READ MORE: Vance urges employers to punish anyone celebrating Kirk’s death
“This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish,” Kimmel said.
Conservative public figures, including Vice President J.D. Vance, have blamed “left-wing extremism” for political violence. Dozens of people have since lost their jobs or been suspended for mocking Kirk or justifying his murder.