The Sinclair Broadcasting Group unexpectedly scrapped its plans to air a tribute to Charlie Kirk last week, following multiple violent threats received by its local ABC affiliate.
This local television powerhouse, based in Baltimore and operating over 40 ABC affiliates, decided to pull the tribute late Friday, apparently in response to a source indicating concern over Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC suspension.
Last week, a gunman fired several shots into the lobby of the Tenna-owned ABC affiliate in Sacramento, fortunately resulting in no injuries. Although authorities arrested the suspect, he was released on bail before the FBI intervened and took him into custody.
As the days passed, Sinclair executives grew increasingly uneasy about broadcasting the Kirk Tribute Special, fearing it could inspire a similar crime to the Sacramento incident.
Sources revealed that Sinclair has informed both law enforcement and private security about the threats, though it was unclear if any federal or local officials had been notified right away.
In a brief statement, Sinclair clarified, “We will continue to air ABC network programming as scheduled late at night.”
Additionally, the company has heightened security measures across all its facilities in light of the situation.
Efforts to reach Sinclair for a comment were unsuccessful. An FBI spokesperson also could not be contacted immediately.
Earlier in the week, Sinclair had planned to replace “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” with the Charlie Kirk Special following Kimmel’s suspension.
However, just nine minutes before the scheduled airing at 11:35 PM, viewers were treated to a “celebrity family feud” instead.
Kirk’s tribute eventually found a home on YouTube. It discussed the assassination of a conservative activist in Utah, offered evidence against the suspect Tyler Robinson, and touched on ongoing federal investigations.
The program also chronicled Kirk’s rise as the founder of Turning Point USA, alongside his commitment to faith and debate, and noted the enthusiastic support he received from his followers, eager to further his posthumous movement.
This tribute was pitched as Sinclair’s response to Kimmel’s indefinite hiatus after his September 15 monologue on Kirk’s murder, where Kimmel accused conservatives of exploiting the tragedy and linked the suspect to the broader movement.
Later, FCC Chairman Brendan Kerr warned Disney affiliates on a podcast that continued airing Kimmel’s show without action could lead to “additional FCC work.”
As Nexstar awaited regulatory approval for a $6.2 billion merger, it quickly took Kimmel’s show off air. Initially, Sinclair expressed regret to Kirk’s family and pledged to keep Kimmel off the air until he contributed to Turning Point USA.
By Friday evening, however, Sinclair had altered its course, dropping the tribute and reinstating ABC’s regular schedule. The company has not announced if the tribute will air at a later date.
The decision sparked significant backlash online from conservative commentators, with comments like “Unreal. You guys fell into a cave,” and accusations of betraying their base resonating across social media.
Some viewers managed to catch the tribute on YouTube, sharing mixed feelings. One viewer commented, “It was okay, but it looked more like a news show than a genuine homage to his life. It wasn’t bad, just… I expected more.”
This series of events adds to the ongoing turmoil in late-night television, especially as CBS previously announced the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show. ABC has yet to reveal a timeline for Kimmel’s return.
