Nexstar Media Group Suspends “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Indefinitely

Nexstar Media Group announced Tuesday that it will persist in suspending “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” as the show prepares to return to late-night television.

The decision to suspend Kimmel’s program initially stemmed from a “timingly uninsensitive” remark he made regarding the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk during a monologue on September 15. Following Disney’s approval of Kimmel’s return from his indefinite hiatus, Nexstar reaffirmed its support for the suspension, emphasizing a goal of maintaining “respect” and encouraging “constructive dialogue.”

“Last week, we opted to take the lead on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ during this critical time in our national discourse, particularly in the wake of what ABC termed Kimmel’s ‘unsensual, unadulterated’ comments,” Nexstar stated. “We back this decision to ensure that all involved are dedicated to fostering a respectful and constructive conversational environment in the communities we serve. In the meantime, ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ will still be accessible nationwide through various Disney-owned streaming services, while our stations will concentrate on local news and related programming.”

Another broadcaster, Sinclair, which owns ABC’s affiliate network, is also in alignment with the suspension of Kimmel’s show, as per a statement released on Monday.

Nexstar and Sinclair’s decision implies that Kimmel’s show will only be airing on ABC’s main channels and will not be available on affiliate networks.

Walt Disney Company, ABC’s parent organization, indefinitely suspended Kimmel’s program after a misstep in which he suggested that the individual responsible for Kirk’s assassination was part of the “Magagang,” comparing Trump’s response to a child’s grief over a dead goldfish.

“We witnessed new lows over the weekend. The Magagangs were frantically attempting to explain this kid trying to kill Charlie Kirk as anything but one of their own, hoping to score political points,” Kimmel said during his September 15 monologue. “The other day, the White House flew the flag at half-staff; this is what it looks like when a four-year-old mourns for a fish.”

Disney CEO Bob Iger and co-chair Dana Walden were reportedly concerned that Kimmel’s remarks might “ignite tensions” among the Magazine’s fan base, especially after he planned to reiterate his statements on Wednesday. Kimmel allegedly had no plans to apologize, asserting that conservatives misunderstood his intentions.

On Monday, Disney executives confirmed that Kimmel’s show would return the following night after a “thoughtful conversation” with him.