ABC will be airing “Jimmy Kimmel Live” “indefinitely” following comments made by the host about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as reported by various sources.
This decision was announced on Wednesday, shortly after Nexstar Media Group revealed it would preempt Kimmel’s show due to his remarks earlier that evening.
During his Monday night show, Kimmel remarked, “I hit a new low over the weekend.”
The comedian accused conservative Republicans of attempting to exploit Kirk’s death for political gain.
Kimmel made a joke about criticizing President Trump while also expressing regret over Kirk’s assassination.
Nexstar’s announcement expressed strong disapproval of Kimmel’s recent statements regarding Kirk’s murder, opting to replace the show with different programming in ABC-related markets.
They stated, “We find Kimmel’s remarks about Kirk’s death to be aggressive and insensitive during a crucial time in our national political conversation. Continuing to provide him with a platform is not serving the public interest at this moment. Thus, we have made the challenging decision to preempt his show in hopes of fostering respectful and constructive dialogue.”
Nexstar is the largest local news provider in the U.S., owning affiliate stations across numerous markets along with News Nation and CW.
Kimmel’s comments faced significant backlash from conservative media figures. On Wednesday, FCC Chairman Brendan Kerr labeled his remarks “some of the most sickening acts possible.”
The comedian has consistently criticized Trump and his supporters, and earlier this year speculated that the president could take the airwaves following Paramount’s cancellation of “Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
