Jimmy Kimmel Pulled Off Air After Charlie Kirk Comments: What Happened, Why It Matters, and What Comes Next

Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been indefinitely suspended by ABC after host Jimmy Kimmel accused the “MAGA gang” of politicizing the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The backlash was swift—led by FCC Chair Brendan Carr, Nexstar Media, and President Trump**. Hollywood is pushing back, calling it censorship. Here’s the full breakdown.

🎯 The Spark: What Did Jimmy Kimmel Actually Say?

On Monday, September 15, 2025, Jimmy Kimmel opened his monologue with a scathing critique of how some conservatives were responding to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA.

“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.”  

Jimmy Kimmel, Sept. 15 monologue 

Kimmel also mocked President Trump’s reaction to Kirk’s death, saying:

 “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.” 

These comments triggered a firestorm. Despite later reports that the suspected killer, Tyler Robinson, held left-wing views and had no ties to MAGA, Kimmel’s remarks were interpreted by many as blaming the pro-Trump movement for inciting violence. 

⚠️ The Fallout: Why Was Kimmel Pulled?

Within 48 hours, the backlash escalated from social media to corporate boardrooms:

FCC Chair Brendan Carr Called Kimmel’s Remarks “Garbage”

 “This is the sickest conduct possible… Local broadcasters have an obligation to serve the public interest.”  

Brendan Carr, FCC Chairman 

Carr threatened regulatory action, including revoking ABC affiliate licenses, if Disney didn’t act.

 Nexstar Media Group Dropped the Show

Nexstar, which owns 200+ ABC affiliates, announced it would preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live!*** indefinitely, citing that Kimmel’s comments were “offensive and insensitive” and didn’t reflect “community values.” 

ABC Suspended Kimmel Indefinitely

Hours later, Disney-owned ABC confirmed the show was off the air indefinitely. 

🧨 The Reaction: Hollywood vs. MAGA World

🔥 Trump and Allies Celebrate

“Great news for America… Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings and said a horrible thing about a great man named Charlie Kirk.”  

Donald Trump, Sept. 18 

Trump also called for NBC to cancel Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon, saying:  

“That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers… Do it NBC!!!” 

🎭Hollywood Pushes Back

- Ben Stiller: “This isn’t right.” 

- Jean Smart: “What Jimmy said was free speech, not hate speech.” 

- Writers Guild of America:  

  “The right to speak our minds… is at the very heart of what it means to be a free people.” 

🧩 The Bigger Picture: Is This Censorship or Consequence?

This incident is being framed as a turning point in the culture wars. For years, conservatives have claimed cancel culture targets them. Now, with a Republican president, FCC pressure, and corporate pullouts, the left is crying foul.

House Democrats are threatening congressional subpoenas, calling the suspension a “corrupt pay-to-play scheme” tied to Nexstar’s $6.2B merger with Tegna—currently under 

FCC review. 

- Sinclair Broadcast Group is airing a Charlie Kirk tribute in Kimmel’s timeslot and demanding Kimmel apologize and donate to Kirk’s family and Turning Point USA. 

📺 What Happens Next?

| Stakeholder | Status | Next Move |

|-------------|--------|-----------|

| ABC / Disney | Show suspended | No timeline for return |

| Nexstar | Show dropped | Airing alternate programming |

| FCC | Threatened license action | Could escalate if Kimmel returns |

| Hollywood | Rallying support | Unions may file grievances |

| Trump / GOP | Celebrating | Pushing for more cancellations |

🧮 Jimmy Kimmel by the Numbers

- Net Worth (2025): ~$50 million 

- Show Debut: 2003

- Oscars Hosted: 4 times

- 2025 Ratings: Down year-over-year, but still top 3 in late night 

🧠 Final Thoughts: A Late-Night Line in the Sand

Whether you see Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension as accountability or censorship, one thing is clear: the rules of the game have changed. With regulatory pressure, corporate mergers, and political retribution

 now in play, late-night comedy may never be the same.

> “If free speech applied only to ideas we like, we needn’t have bothered to write it into the Constitution.”  

🔗 Sources

: [BBC – Jimmy Kimmel taken off air over Charlie Kirk comments](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c203n52x1y9o)  

: [USA Today – Trump reacts to Kimmel suspension](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2025/09/17/jimmy-kimmel-live-suspended-charlie-kirk-comments/86209499007/)  

: [Newsweek – Live updates on Kimmel suspension](https://www.newsweek.com/jimmy-kimmel-live-trump-abc-cancelled-fcc-free-speech-2131701)  

: [CNBC – Nexstar and FCC pressure on Disney](https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/17/charlie-kirk-jimmy-kimmel-abc-disney.html)  

: [People – Trump says Kimmel was fired for lack of talent](https://people.com/trump-says-jimmy-kimmel-fired-for-lack-of-talent-11812506)