Local TV stations have decided not to air “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” even though Disney-owned ABC has reinstated the comedian’s late-night show, following a suspension for his remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Nexstar and Sinclair, which collectively manage numerous ABC-affiliated stations, announced that they would continue replacing the show with regular programming on Tuesday.
“Mr. Kimmel’s comments were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country,” said Sinclair’s vice-chairman Jason Smith.
The liberal comedian’s show was removed from the air last week after his monologue regarding the shooting of Kirk sparked backlash.
Nexstar, one of the largest TV station owners in the U.S., stated on Tuesday: “Last week, we chose to preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ after ABC described Mr. Kimmel’s remarks as ‘ill-timed and insensitive’ during a crucial period in our national conversation.
“We uphold that decision until we receive assurances that all parties are dedicated to promoting an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve.”
Earlier on Monday, Sinclair announced it would be “preempting ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ on our ABC affiliate stations and substituting it with news programming.”
“Conversations with ABC are ongoing as we assess the show’s potential return,” the company stated.
Nexstar and Sinclair together manage over 20% of ABC’s affiliated television stations, according to the New York Times.
In his monologue on September 15, Kimmel remarked that U.S. President Donald Trump and his allies were “desperately trying to portray the individual who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of their own” while attempting to “score political points from it.”
He further compared Trump’s reaction to the influencer’s murder to “how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
America’s broadcast regulator accused Kimmel of misleading viewers, noting that officials had indicated the 22-year-old accused of murdering Kirk in Utah was “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology.”
Disney, which owns the U.S. network airing “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” announced on Monday that the show would resume.
The company stated it had suspended the show because “some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive.”
“We have spent the last few days engaging in thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and following these discussions, we decided to bring the show back on Tuesday,” Disney said.
The comedian’s suspension followed threats from the federal TV regulator to revoke ABC’s broadcast license, igniting a nationwide debate.
Critics condemned the action as censorship and criticized ABC and its parent company Disney for seemingly succumbing to pressure from the Trump administration.
On Monday, hundreds of celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep, and Robert De Niro, signed a letter supporting Kimmel, calling his suspension a “dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
Trump welcomed Kimmel’s suspension and suggested that some TV networks should have their licenses “taken away” for negative coverage of the White House.
On Friday, police arrested a man for firing a gun into the lobby of an ABC news affiliate in Sacramento, California.
Federal prosecutors discovered a note in his car that read “they’re next,” which investigators believe referred to Trump administration officials.
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