Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s recent attempt to clarify remarks he made about the fatal shooting involving Charlie Kirk didn’t seem to satisfy Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk co-founded. A spokesperson for TPUSA stated that Kimmel’s comments lacked substance.
“That’s not enough,” Andrew Corvette from TPUSA tweeted early Wednesday. “What you should be saying is: ‘I apologize for suggesting the shooter was a MAGA supporter. He actually wasn’t. I regret lying about the Kirks. Please accept my sincere apologies. I was wrong, and I’ll do better.'”
Kimmel returned to the air on Tuesday night after ABC overturned his suspension following a heated backlash. He had accused Kirk of “desperately trying to portray the child who killed him as something other than what he is,” suggesting Kirk was trying to gain political leverage from the situation.
During the show, Kimmel also humorously remarked that President Trump would be saddened by Kirk, referring to him as a close ally of the administration. He even joked about a child mourning their goldfish.
“I want to clarify something because it matters to me as a human. I wasn’t trying to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel said, appearing emotional. “I think there’s nothing funny about it.”
He described the shooter, Tyler Robinson, as a “deeply disturbed individual,” expressing no intention to denounce any group related to the incident. “I understand it might have felt untimely for some,” he acknowledged. “If I had been in your shoes, I probably would have felt the same.”
Robinson, 22, was charged with murder and multiple other offenses last week in connection with Kirk’s death in Utah. Prosecutors noted that Robinson’s mother was informed he had political leanings toward the left.
In messages disclosed by prosecutors, Robinson claimed he believed “some hatred cannot be negotiated.”
Kimmel’s initial comments were met with criticism across the political spectrum. However, he received support from fellow late-night hosts and various celebrities. On the flip side, Trump and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Kerr applauded Kimmel’s temporary suspension from television.
Kerr criticized Kimmel’s initial monologue, stating, “Unless we think something will address our community’s needs, we should reject this kind of content.” A few hours later, the Nexstar Media Group, which owns The Hill, announced that local ABC affiliates would temporarily halt airing Kimmel’s show—a decision backed on Tuesday even after his return. Sinclair Broadcast Group also chose not to air Kimmel on its affiliate stations.
