ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! is set to return to the air Tuesday, after a nearly week-long suspension that triggered a national discussion about freedom of speech. But two groups of ABC affiliates that denounced Kimmel last week said they would not carry his return.
Nexstar Media Group said it would continue to pre-empt the show, “pending assurances that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve.”
Sinclair Broadcast Group said it would also keep Kimmel off its stations.
The two corporations collectively control about one-quarter of ABC affiliates.
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ABC, which suspended Kimmel’s show last Wednesday following criticism of his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, announced Monday that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would return after the network had “thoughtful conversations” with the host.
“Our long national late nightmare is over,” late-night host Stephen Colbert joked on his CBS show in response to Kimmel’s reinstatement.
ABC suspended Kimmel indefinitely after comments he made in a monologue last week. In that monologue, Kimmel said the U.S. had hit “new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”