Geraldo Rivera Comments on Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension
Former Fox News commentator Geraldo Rivera remarked on Thursday that late-night host Jimmy Kimmel “owes an apology to the Kirk family.” This comes after ABC decided to suspend Kimmel’s show on Wednesday due to remarks he made regarding the assassination of a 22-year-old, Tyler Robinson, during Kimmel’s program on Monday night.
Rivera clarified that the choice to bench Kimmel wasn’t influenced by the Federal Communications Commission or former President Donald Trump. “Americans are dealing with trauma. This is often downplayed by those who oppose Trump. It really is simple: I deserve some respect, even if you don’t agree with me. It feels lost, yet we’ve moved on… If Charlie Kirk was in the same situation, how would people on the left react?” he added.
On the Monday episode, Kimmel suggested that the assassin had links to Trump supporters. Utah Republican Spencer Cox shared evidence related to the manhunt during press conferences earlier that week.
Reports from charging documents released on Tuesday indicated that Robinson had interactions with her transgender roommate prior to the tragic event and had confessed to the assassination.
There have been various comments on social media platforms praising or justifying Kirk’s assassination, leading to firings of individuals like MSNBC’s Matthew Dowd and Washington Post’s Karen Attiah.
“We’re genuinely concerned about free speech, and we voice that concern. We appreciate being able to do so,” Rivera mentioned. He continued, discussing the complexities of Kimmel’s situation, indicating that any issues between Kimmel and ABC are separate from public perception. “But, circling back, Jimmy Kimmel should apologize to Charlie Kirk’s family,” he stressed.
In light of the situation, Sinclair Broadcast stated they would maintain the suspension of Kimmel’s show until formal discussions with ABC take place concerning the network’s standards and accountability. “Sinclair insists on an apology from Kimmel to the Kirk family and encourages him to consider making personal donations to the Kirk family and Turning Point USA,” the statement concluded.
