On Wednesday evening, ABC made a significant announcement regarding the future of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The network has decided to pull the show indefinitely following widespread criticism of comments made by Kimmel during his Monday program. The remarks in question pertained to the motives of Tyler Robinson, the individual accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week.
This abrupt decision by ABC, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company, came just hours after Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), publicly condemned Kimmel's remarks. Carr indicated that the FCC might pursue regulatory action against ABC due to the late-night host's comments. During his opening monologue, Kimmel described the incident as a low point, stating, “We hit some 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.”
Conservative activists quickly criticized Kimmel's comments, arguing that he misrepresented the political beliefs of Tyler Robinson. Reports indicate that Robinson had expressed his objections to Kirk’s “hatred” in private messages. While the authorities have not disclosed which of Kirk's views the suspect found offensive, his mother noted that her son had shifted towards more liberal beliefs over the past year, becoming “more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented,” as per prosecutors.
In a subsequent interview on a right-wing podcast, Chairman Carr elaborated on his position, labeling Kimmel’s remarks as part of a “concerted effort to lie to the American people.” He hinted at possible remedies from the FCC, stating, “Frankly, when you see stuff like this — I mean, we can do this the easy way or the hard way.” Carr urged media companies to take action, suggesting they might need to preemptively alter their programming to address such controversial content.
In light of Carr's comments, broadcasting company Nexstar took immediate action. Just before ABC's announcement, Nexstar stated it would replace Jimmy Kimmel Live! with other shows on its local ABC affiliates for the “foreseeable future.” In a statement, Nexstar expressed strong objections to Kimmel’s comments regarding Kirk’s killing, indicating a shift in programming in its ABC-affiliated markets.
Chairman Carr publicly commended Nexstar’s decision, thanking the company via a post on social media platform X for taking a stand. He expressed hope that other broadcasting companies would follow Nexstar's lead. As one of the largest TV station operators in the United States, Nexstar's actions could set a precedent for how similar controversies are handled in the future.
Furthermore, Nexstar's CEO, Perry Sook, is currently navigating a major acquisition deal with Tegna, valued at $6.2 billion. This transaction is likely to come under scrutiny from the FCC, especially given the current administration's increased focus on media mergers.
As the situation unfolds, the repercussions of Kimmel's remarks and the subsequent actions by ABC and Nexstar may have lasting effects on the landscape of late-night television and the relationship between media companies and regulatory bodies.
