^{Photo: The New York Times}

ABC Pulls the Plug — For Now

In a stunning shake-up to late-night television, Disney-owned ABC has pulled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air indefinitely following controversial remarks by Kimmel about the alleged killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The move came just hours after Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr warned that ABC’s broadcast license could be at risk due to Kimmel’s comments, calling them “truly sick.”

ABC confirmed late Wednesday that the show will be “pre-empted indefinitely” but emphasized that Kimmel has not been fired. According to sources familiar with the matter, Disney executives plan to meet with Kimmel to discuss the controversy and chart a path for his return.

What Sparked the Controversy

The uproar began during Kimmel’s Monday night monologue, where he referenced Tyler Robinson, the suspect charged with fatally shooting Charlie Kirk on September 10 while Kirk was speaking at Utah Valley University.

Kimmel linked Robinson to Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement, stating:

“The MAGA gang is desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”

The remarks triggered immediate political and industry backlash, with conservative commentators accusing Kimmel of politicizing a tragedy.

Political Pressure Mounts

FCC Chair Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, hinted on conservative host Benny Johnson’s program that the network could face regulatory consequences if it failed to respond.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said. “These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”

Carr argued that ABC’s license requires it to serve the public interest, suggesting Kimmel’s remarks crossed that line.

Former President Donald Trump celebrated ABC’s decision, calling it “Great News for America” on Truth Social and urging NBC to cancel its own late-night lineup, including “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon and “Late Night with Seth Meyers”.

Meanwhile, the White House’s rapid-response account on X (formerly Twitter) posted, “Jimmy is a sick freak!” while FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez countered that the move was “an inexcusable act of political censorship.”

Nexstar, Mergers, and Industry Fallout

Before ABC’s official announcement, Nexstar Media Group — which owns about 10% of ABC’s 225 affiliate stations — said it would stop airing Kimmel’s show “for the foreseeable future.”

Nexstar is currently seeking FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna, which owns another 5% of ABC affiliates. Industry analysts say Nexstar’s swift action may be tied to its desire to stay in the FCC’s good graces during the high-stakes merger review.

Andrew Alford, Nexstar’s Broadcasting President, said the company “strongly objects” to Kimmel’s comments and will replace his time slot with alternative programming.

Free Speech Debate Heats Up

The controversy has reignited a fierce national debate over free speech and censorship in media:

• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) condemned ABC’s move, saying, “America is meant to be a bastion of free speech… This is about protecting democracy.”
• Writers Guild of America West and East called ABC’s decision “corporate cowardice”, declaring:

“The right to speak our minds—even to disturb—is at the heart of being a free people.”

• Tino Gagliardi, president of the American Federation of Musicians, labeled the move “state censorship”, warning that “it’s happening right here and right now in America.”

Conversely, conservative figures applauded ABC, claiming it acted responsibly to prevent “politicized hate speech” on airwaves regulated by the FCC.

ABC’s Next Moves

Despite the uproar, insiders say Disney executives are not looking to permanently remove Kimmel. Instead, they are seeking a public apology or on-air statement before allowing the show to return.

Meanwhile, the FCC continues to investigate Disney and ABC’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, a separate probe launched earlier this year but now under renewed scrutiny following Carr’s comments.

For now, the fate of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” remains uncertain, caught between political pressure, regulatory threats, and industry outrage—a collision of forces that could reshape the boundaries of free speech in U.S. broadcasting.