ABC has suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely after controversial remarks about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The network said the show would be removed from the schedule for the foreseeable future, noting that the decision was made in response to comments made on air.
During Monday's episode, Kimmel addressed the tragedy and referenced the reaction from political camps, stating that opponents were attempting to define the shooter as anything other than a member of Kirk's political orbit and were doing everything they could to score political points from it. He offered a pair of clips that he said reflected a partisan narrative around the incident: "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 and doing everything they can to score political points from it." He continued, noting that the White House had moved to half-staff on Friday, adding, "On Friday, the White House flew the flags at half staff, which got some criticism, but on a human level, you can see how hard the president is taking this."
The remarks prompted ABC to take the program off the air, with the network saying the show would be removed from the lineup for the foreseeable future. In reviewing the episode, executives weighed whether Kimmel’s comments crossed internal guidelines for on-air conduct and political content, according to people familiar with the matter. The decision follows a pattern in which networks re-examine late-night hosts' comments that touch on sensitive politics and public figures, particularly when the remarks are framed as commentary on a national tragedy.
Kimmel's material also touched on President Donald Trump, who was shown in a clip discussing the aftermath of the shooting. In the broadcast, Kimmel quipped about Trump’s reactions, saying, "Yes, he’s at the fourth stage of grief, construction." He added, "Demolition, construction," and followed with a personal jab: "This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish, okay?"
In another portion of the broadcast, Kimmel aired a clip from a September 12 appearance by Trump on Fox & Friends, in which the former president described what he was doing when he learned of Kirk's death. Trump described a moment about planning the White House ballroom, saying, "When I heard it, I was in the midst of, you know, building a great — for 150 years they’ve wanted a ballroom at the White House, right? They don’t have a ballroom; they have to use tents on the lawn for President Xi when he comes over. If it rains, it's a wipeout." Kimmel followed with the line, "And then we installed the most beautiful chandelier," before the camera panned back to him with, "Sconces you wouldn’t believe."
Authorities identified the shooter as Tyler Robinson, 22, and investigators said he held far-left ideologies and was dating his transgender roommate. The details about the suspect emerged amid broader reporting on the case, which has already drawn intense political reaction.
Kerk was killed while Kirk was debating with students at Utah Valley University last week. The incident has reverberated across media and political circles, with supporters and critics alike weighing the optics of public figures being connected to the circumstances of Kirk's death. The network did not release further details about the suspension beyond reiterating the pending status of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the commitment to uphold standards across its programming.
ABC’s decision to pull the show comes at a moment when late-night hosts face heightened scrutiny over how they handle politics and charitably sensitive topics on air. The move reflects the network's effort to balance free expression with considerations of audience sensitivity and advertiser support during a period of intense national discourse.
As coverage continues, observers will watch to see whether the network revises its stance or reintroduces Kimmel’s program with changes to format or content. In the meantime, ABC has not announced a new air date for Jimmy Kimmel Live!.