ABC has suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! For an indefinite period after comments the late evening host on the murder of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The network’s decision has occurred a few hours after the president of the Federal Communications Commission Brendan Carr – was appointed under the former President Donald Trump – planned during his appearance on the Benny Johnson podcast that the broadcasters could incur fines or a license revocation if they did not act against the Kimmel program.
In a statement on Wednesday evening, ABC – which belongs to Disney – confirmed that it would replace Kimmel’s program in its calendar “in the foreseeable future”.
Nexstar Media, one of the largest American station owners, also said that this would stop broadcasting Jimmy Kimmel Live! Nationwide, calling for its “offensive and insensitive” remarks.
Doubled on the announcement, Sinclair Broadcast Group, which has most ABC affiliates, announced its intention to announce a tribute to Kirk during Kimmel’s period.
Trump praised this decision on social networks, calling him “excellent news for America” and congratulating ABC for his “courage”. He made fun of NBC host of Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers as “Total Losers”, a blow which occurs two months after the cancellation of the program of Stephen Colbert.
Kimmel’s original comments occurred during his monologues on Monday and Tuesday. Referring to the suspect accused of having killed Kirk – Tyler Robinson, 28, faced with aggravated murder and other accusations – Kimmel criticized the supporters of Maga for having “tried to score political points” and made fun of the vice -president JD Vance for having blamed the political left without proof.
He cited research attributing most extremist violence in the United States to far-right groups, rubbing the claims of Vance as “complete bullshit”.
Kimmel has not yet published a public declaration on the suspension.
