September 21, 2025 | 12:08 pm
The future of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on the ABC channel is now hanging by a thread. After the host's comments on the conservative figure Charlie Kirk's shooting sparked controversy, Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest affiliate of ABC in the United States, pulled the program from all its local stations.
Not stopping at suspension, Sinclair also announced a list of conditions that must be met if Kimmel wants his program to return to air. This decision was reinforced by Nexstar Media Group, which also delayed the broadcast of the show.
Sinclair's Demands for the Return of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
In an official statement on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, quoted from People, Sinclair referred to Kimmel's remarks as "inappropriate and insensitive at a critical moment". The company asserted that it would not re-broadcast Jimmy Kimmel Live! unless certain conditions were met.
Sinclair requested for formal discussions with ABC regarding professional commitment and broadcasting accountability. In addition, Kimmel was asked to directly apologize to Charlie Kirk's family. Then, to make a personal donation that is commensurate or large enough to demonstrate Kimmel's seriousness and responsibility for his remarks to Kirk's family and the Turning Point USA, a conservative advocacy group founded by Kirk.
Sinclair emphasized that the show would only be reinstated if national broadcasting standards were truly preserved. For now, the airtime slot for Jimmy Kimmel Live! is being replaced with a special program honoring Kirk in over 30 local TV markets, including Seattle, Washington D.C., and Portland.
Pressure from Nexstar and Public Reaction
Nexstar Media Group, a company with over 200 TV stations in 116 U.S. markets, took a similar step. The President of Nexstar's broadcasting division, Andrew Alford, stated that Kimmel's comments were 'offensive and did not reflect the values of the local community', leading to an indefinite suspension of the show.
As reported by Business Insider, the decisions of both broadcasting giants received support from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who believed that stricter regulations on national network content were necessary. Former President Donald Trump also welcomed ABC's and Sinclair's steps, even calling Kimmel 'untalented' on his Truth Social account.
On the other hand, some figures in Hollywood expressed their support for Kimmel. Actress Jean Smart viewed Kimmel's comments as part of freedom of expression, not hate speech. This difference in opinion illustrates the tug-of-war between broadcasting responsibility, freedom of speech, and the standards that must be met for Kimmel to return to the air.
According to a report by Variety on Friday, September 19, 2025, Jimmy Kimmel and Disney are working to reach a compromise for Jimmy Kimmel Live! to return to ABC. The show's business and legal representatives are in deep discussions with Disney and ABC leaders in the hope of finding a path to a compromise that will enable the return of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
It is known that ABC and Disney executives have long expressed concerns to Jimmy Kimmel about the sharpness of his criticism of Donald Trump. When the controversy erupted, Disney executives felt they had no choice but to sideline Kimmel so that the controversy sparked by media MAGA would subside.
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Editor's Choice: ABC Suspends Jimmy Kimmel Live! Over Host's Remarks on Charlie Kirk's Death
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