{"id":28689,"date":"2025-09-18T00:29:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T00:29:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/28689\/"},"modified":"2025-09-18T00:29:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T00:29:08","slug":"jimmy-kimmel-live-is-indefinitely-pulled-from-abc-after-his-charlie-kirk-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/28689\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Jimmy Kimmel Live!&#8217; Is Indefinitely Pulled from ABC After His Charlie Kirk Comments"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> NEED TO KNOW<br \/>\nJimmy Kimmel Live! has been indefinitely pulled, an ABC spokesperson tells PEOPLEThe decision comes after he made comments about the death of Charlie KirkKirk was fatally shot on Wednesday, Sept. 10<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/jimmy-kimmel\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jimmy Kimmel<\/a>&#8216;s late-night show has been indefinitely pulled.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_4-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> On Wednesday, Sept. 17, it was announced that Disney&#8217;s ABC would be pulling Jimmy Kimmel\u00a0Live! indefinitely, an ABC spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_6-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> The network\u2019s decision follows Nexstar Media&#8217;s decision to preempt airings of the program. Nexstar Media is the largest local broadcast and digital media company in the U.S. that owns more than 200 television stations in 116 markets.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_8-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Nexstar said in a statement to PEOPLE that its \u201cowned and partner television stations affiliated with the ABC Television Network will preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the foreseeable future, beginning with tonight\u2019s show.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_10-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> The statement added that the company \u201cstrongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_12-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Andrew Alford, President of Nexstar\u2019s broadcasting division, elaborated on the decision in a statement to PEOPLE, saying, \u201cMr. Kimmel\u2019s 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.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_14-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Alford continued, \u201cContinuing 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.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_16-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> The media company\u2019s decision came two days after Kimmel mentioned Kirk in his monologue. Kirk was <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/charlie-kirk-dead-utah-college-shooting-11807587\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">shot and killed<\/a> during a speaking event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. He was 31.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_18-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> During Kimmel\u2019s Monday, Sept. 15 monologue, he directly addressed President Donald Trump\u2019s \u201cMake America Great Again\u201d supporters, saying, \u201cWe hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to characterize this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_20-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> PEOPLE reached out to representatives for Kimmel.\n<\/p>\n<p> Charlie Kirk in May 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Andrew Harnik\/Getty<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_23-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> The news comes amid Kimmel&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/trump-says-kimmel-fallon-will-be-fired-next-takes-credit-11776782\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">ongoing feud with President Donald Trump<\/a>, who predicted that the longtime ABC host would be the next late-night casualty after CBS <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-canceled-10-seasons-11774758\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">canceled The Late Show With Stephen Colbert<\/a> in July 2025.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_25-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Prior to Trump warning of a late-night exodus, Kimmel himself had repeatedly hinting at ending his show. He told the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/entertainment-arts\/awards\/story\/2024-02-20\/jimmy-kimmel-talks-about-his-fourth-go-at-oscar-hosting\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Los Angeles Times<\/a>\u00a0in February 2024 that the three-year contract he signed in 2022 would probably be his last, joking, &#8220;I hate to even say it, because everyone\u2019s laughing at me now \u2014 each time I think that, and then it turns out to be not the case.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_27-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> \u201cI still have a little more than two years left on my contract, and that seems pretty good,&#8221; he added at the time. &#8220;That seems like enough.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<p> Jimmy Kimmel on the &#8216;Live!&#8217; set in July 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Randy Holmes\/Disney via Getty<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_30-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Kimmel, who has hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2003, has frequently found himself in the president&#8217;s crosshairs, whether for monologue jokes or jabs he took at Trump while <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/politics\/jimmy-kimmel-donald-trump-stormy-daniels-oscars\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">hosting the Oscars<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_32-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Following The Late Show&#8217;s cancellation, the president took to his\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/114897600777919524\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Truth Social<\/a>\u00a0account, claiming, &#8220;The word is, and it\u2019s a strong word at that,\u00a0Jimmy Kimmel\u00a0is NEXT to go in the untalented Late Night Sweepstakes and, shortly thereafter,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tag\/jimmy-fallon\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">[Jimmy] Fallon<\/a>\u00a0will be gone.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_34-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> &#8220;These are people with absolutely NO TALENT, who were paid Millions of Dollars for, in all cases, destroying what used to be GREAT Television,&#8221; Trump wrote. &#8220;It\u2019s really good to see them go, and I hope I played a major part in it!&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_38-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Kimmel expressed frustration of his own toward the president while on summer vacation with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/parents\/all-about-jimmy-kimmel-kids\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">his family<\/a>, sharing a photo of his family at an anti-Trump protest on July 17 with a pointed message.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_40-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> &#8220;May every day be another wonderful secret,&#8221; Kimmel&#8217;s Instagram caption read, referencing a line from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/trump-reportedly-told-epstein-they-have-certain-things-in-common-in-lewd-birthday-card-11690275\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">a cryptic letter that Trump allegedly wrote<\/a>\u00a0to sex offender\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/donald-trump-named-in-jeffrey-epstein-flight-logs-released-by-his-own-attorney-general-11687947\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>, as reported by\u00a0The\u00a0Wall Street Journal.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_42-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> In the photo, he and his wife, Live! co-head writer\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/tv\/who-is-molly-mcnearney-jimmy-kimmel-wife\/\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Molly McNearney<\/a>, are pictured in anti-Trump shirts with their children, Jane and Billy. Each member of the family is holding a sign, with phrases including, &#8220;Don&#8217;t bend the knee,&#8221; &#8220;Make America Good Again,&#8221; and &#8220;I wish we had a better president!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_44-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for<a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/people-news-daily-newsletter-sign-up-8692701\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> PEOPLE&#8217;s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_46-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> When Kimmel learned of The Late Show&#8217;s cancellation \u2014 which came three days after Colbert tore into his parent company, Paramount, for offering up $16 million to settle a lawsuit with the president \u2014 the ABC host took to Instagram Stories to stand up for his friend and late-night rival.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_48-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Reposting a clip from Colbert&#8217;s announcement, Kimmel wrote, &#8220;Love you Stephen.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_50-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> He then called out the network behind the decision, adding, &#8220;F&#8212; you and all your Sheldons, CBS,&#8221; seemingly referring to the network&#8217;s\u00a0Big Bang Theory\u00a0and\u00a0Young Sheldon\u00a0series.\n<\/p>\n<p> Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel during the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards.<\/p>\n<p>FOX Image Collection via Getty<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_53-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Back in 2022, Kimmel admitted that he&#8217;d previously considered quitting his late-night show if he wasn&#8217;t allowed to make fun of Trump.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_55-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> &#8220;There was one time, right around the beginning of this whole Trump thing\u2026 maybe not quite [eight years ago],&#8221; Kimmel said on <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/naked-lunch\/id1620018481\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Stitcher&#8217;s\u00a0Naked Lunch\u00a0podcast<\/a>. &#8220;I said, listen, I get it, you&#8217;re right. I have lost half of my fanbase, maybe more. Ten years ago, among Republicans, I was the most popular talk show. At least, according to the research they did.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_57-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> &#8220;I get it if [blocking Trump jokes is] what they want to do,&#8221; Kimmel continued. &#8220;I said, &#8216;If that&#8217;s what you want to do, I don&#8217;t begrudge you for it, but I&#8217;m not going to do that. If you want someone else to host the show, that&#8217;s fine with me. I&#8217;m just not going to do it like that.&#8217; &#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NEED TO KNOW Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been indefinitely pulled, an ABC spokesperson tells PEOPLEThe decision comes after&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28690,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[156,111,139,69,437],"class_list":["post-28689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-entertainment","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-tv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28689"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28689\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}