Walt Disney-owned ABC said on Wednesday it will indefinitely stop airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! after remarks the late-night host made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination came under harsh criticism from the head of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The decision comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly pressured broadcasters to stop airing content he has found objectionable and called on the FCC to pull licenses from stations. Earlier, Nexstar Media Group, which describes itself as the nation’s largest local television and media company, said it would stop airing the show on its 32 ABC affiliates, citing Kimmel’s comments.
During a recent monologue, Kimmel said the U.S. had hit 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 and doing everything they can to score political points from it. Kimmel also criticized Trump’s mourning of Kirk, pointing to a video of Trump’s comments on the White House lawn.
Kimmel has been a frequent target of Trump’s rage. Shortly after CBS announced the cancelation of Stephen Colbert’s late-night talk show, something FCC chair Brendan Carr publicly celebrated, Trump suggested that “next up will be an even less talented Jimmy Kimmel.”