Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcasting Group have announced the indefinite suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from their ABC affiliate stations following comments made by host Jimmy Kimmel regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The programming change comes after both companies expressed strong objections to remarks delivered by Kimmel during his monologue, which referenced the circumstances surrounding Kirk’s death.
Andrew Alford, President of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, stated, “Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located.” Alford added, “Continuing to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve is simply not in the public interest at the current time, and we have made the difficult decision to preempt his show in an effort to let cooler heads prevail as we move toward the resumption of respectful, constructive dialogue.”
Sinclair Broadcasting Group also issued a statement addressing its position on Kimmel’s remarks. Vice Chairman Jason Smith said, “Mr. Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country. We believe broadcasters have a responsibility to educate and elevate respectful, constructive dialogue in our communities. We appreciate FCC Chairman Carr’s remarks today and this incident highlights the critical need for the FCC to take immediate regulatory action to address control held over local broadcasters by the big national networks.”
In response to these developments, Sinclair will air a special tribute to Charlie Kirk during the time slot previously occupied by “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Friday across its ABC affiliates. The special will also be available on all Sinclair stations throughout the weekend and offered to other ABC affiliates nationwide.
Sinclair has indicated that it will not reinstate “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” until formal discussions with ABC are completed regarding professionalism and accountability standards for network programming. Additionally, Sinclair has called upon Jimmy Kimmel to issue an apology to Kirk’s family and make a donation to them and Turning Point USA.
Sinclair owns or operates 178 television stations in 81 markets affiliated with major broadcast networks and produces various digital content through its AMP Media division (https://sbgi.net/).
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