Several ABC affiliate stations are set to honor Charlie Kirk during the time slot usually occupied by Jimmy Kimmel’s show this Friday. This decision comes on the heels of some controversial remarks made by Kimmel and other liberal hosts regarding the individual accused of assassinating the conservative activist.
Sinclair Broadcast Group, which oversees 30 ABC affiliates, announced their plans to air a special segment dedicated to Kirk after Disney opted to pause “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely. Sinclair has also partnered with Nexstar, another player in the ABC affiliate market, in anticipation of Kimmel’s late-night program.
Jason Smith, Vice-President at Sinclair, commented that Kimmel’s remarks were not only inappropriate but also deeply insensitive, especially at such a critical juncture for the nation.
Following the contentious comments from Kimmel regarding Kirk’s assassination, Disney indicated that the show would be on hold indefinitely. This stance has faced criticism, especially from Sinclair, which has stated that they won’t resume airing the show until they have discussions with ABC regarding its commitment to professionalism.
Sinclair has requested that Kimmel personally apologize to Kirk’s family and also contribute financially to the family and Turning Point USA. The company is steadfast that Kimmel’s show will remain off-air until satisfactory measures are put in place to uphold broadcasting standards.
Earlier in the day, Nexstar had announced it would also preempt Kimmel’s program. They noted that Kimmel’s comments about Kirk’s death were aggressive and insensitive, reflecting poorly during a time of heightened national political discourse. They felt it necessary to step back from airing his show to foster a more constructive dialogue in their communities.
In a rather contentious setting, Kimmel had remarked that some factions attempted to shift the narrative of the case by pinning blame on a supposed leftist ideology and thereby redirecting political gains from a tragic situation. Kimmel’s commentary faced backlash, with critics pointing out that he appeared to implicate the suspect, Tyler Robinson, as a supporter of right-wing ideology.
Despite preparations to address the backlash on his show, Kimmel found himself sidelined as Disney made the decision to suspend the program. The FCC Chair has also issued warnings to Disney, insisting on appropriate responses to the unfolding controversy.
While President Trump and many on the right have applauded Disney’s decision, some have raised concerns about potential overreach. The decision has also fueled frustration among liberal circles, who were quick to criticize the repercussions stemming from Kimmel’s comments.
