“Jimmy Kimmel Live” will be suspended indefinitely, according to a statement from a spokesperson for ABC, a Disney-owned network. This announcement follows Kimmel’s comments about the political response to the shooting of activist Charlie Kirk, where he criticized supporters of former President Donald Trump, referring to them as the “Maga gang.” Kimmel did not offer any comments as he exited the studio shortly after the news broke.
In light of the announcement, President Trump expressed approval, calling it “great news for America.” Kimmel had previously criticized certain flags flown at half-mast for Kirk and commented on Trump’s reaction to the shooting in his monologue. Following the incident, Kimmel had also taken to Instagram to express condolences to Kirk’s family. A suspect has been charged with aggravated murder in connection with the shooting.
Shortly after ABC’s announcement, Nexstar Media, a major owner of U.S. TV stations, declared it would not air “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” due to perceived offensiveness in Kimmel’s remarks. Nexstar stated that these comments did not align with the views of the local communities they serve. The chair of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, praised Nexstar’s decision and suggested other broadcasters follow suit. Sinclair, the largest ABC affiliate group, announced it would air a memorial program for Kirk during Kimmel’s slot.
Kimmel’s suspension drew mixed reactions, including a small protest outside the studio and statements of support from various Hollywood figures like Ben Stiller and Jamie Lee Curtis. The Writers Guild of America condemned the suspension as a violation of free speech rights.
Reports indicate that Kimmel has not been fired, but plans for his return to air are under discussion. This incident follows a trend of late-night shows facing challenges as viewership shifts to streaming platforms, as seen with CBS’s announcement regarding “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.”
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c203n52x1y9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss