Jimmy Kimmel Live! Abruptly Pulled Off Air After Explosive Charlie Kirk Comments

Well, that escalated. ABC has yanked Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the schedule after Kimmel used his monologue to go after the political response to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The fallout arrived fast, and it is not just coming from one direction.

An ABC rep says the show will be 'pre-empted indefinitely.'

What Kimmel said that lit the fuse

On Monday night, Kimmel accused the 'Maga Gang' of trying to 'score political points' off the Kirk shooting. He also took shots at the flags lowered to half-mast for Kirk and at the president's public mourning. After taping, Kimmel left the Los Angeles studio without commenting.

The case at the center of this

On September 10, 31-year-old Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at Utah Valley University. Police have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder. Investigators have not identified a motive. Court records indicate Robinson was not registered with any political party and did not vote in the 2022 or 2024 elections. His mother has said he had recently become 'more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented.'

Politics enter the chat

Donald Trump weighed in on social media, calling ABC's suspension 'great news for America' and tagging Kimmel's show as 'ratings challenged.' He broadened the blast radius to late night in general, labeling Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers 'two total losers.' If you are sensing history here, you are not wrong: Trump and Kimmel have tangled before, including that Oscars bit where Kimmel read Trump's live critiques mid-telecast.

Regulators and affiliates pile on

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr torched Kimmel's remarks on a right-wing podcast, calling them 'the sickest conduct possible' and pressing Disney to act. Carr also reminded broadcasters they are supposed to operate 'in the public interest' and said an apology would be a minimal first step. Another FCC member, Anna Gomez, pushed back, arguing the Trump administration was misusing government power 'to suppress lawful expression.'

Meanwhile, big station groups are not waiting around:

• Nexstar Media, which owns 32 ABC affiliates, says it will pre-empt Jimmy Kimmel Live! 'for the foreseeable future.'
• Sinclair Broadcast Group is replacing Friday's episode with 'a special in remembrance of Charlie Kirk' and is urging Kimmel to issue a direct apology and make 'a meaningful personal donation' to Kirk's family and Turning Point USA.

At the studio: silence, frustration, and signs

Kimmel exited without addressing reporters. Fans who had lined up for the taping were turned away and not thrilled about it. Outside, a small protest formed, with signs criticizing Trump.

The inside baseball part

'Pre-empted indefinitely' is network-speak for off the air without a return date, and it is rare to see affiliates publicly jump in this quickly to nix a late-night show. The FCC commentary adds another unusual layer, with one commissioner pressing the parent company to act while another warns about government overreach. However you slice it, this is not a standard late-night dust-up. It is a full-on broadcast and political fight playing out in real time.