David Letterman said he has heard from Jimmy Kimmel since ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air indefinitely, a move that has sent shockwaves through late-night television. Speaking at the Atlantic Festival in New York on Thursday, the former late-night host said Kimmel had been “nice enough to text … this morning” and that the message conveyed, “He’s sitting up in bed taking nourishment. He’s gonna be fine.”
Letterman called the firing “ridiculous,” saying you cannot “fire somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration in the Oval Office.” He noted that Kimmel has not issued a public statement since an ABC spokesperson told Page Six on Wednesday that the long-running show would be “pre-empted indefinitely.”
The suspension followed Kimmel’s monologue about Charlie Kirk’s Sept. 10 assassination and President Trump’s reaction, a portion of the program that drew swift attention from ABC affiliates and opponents alike. The notes indicate that Kimmel’s comments were part of what prompted the network to pull the program from the schedule, with Nexstar Media telling ABC it “strongly object[ed]” to the remarks. Variety reported that Sinclair, the major ABC affiliate group, pressed for an apology to Kirk’s family and a “meaningful personal donation.” The Daily Mail, in turn, alleged Thursday that Kimmel was “pissed” over the scandal and sought to “break his relationship with ABC forever.”
Industry observers note that Kimmel’s contract with Disney was nearing a renewal, with sources saying he had only months left in the deal and could enter negotiations later this year. He has not issued a public statement, and he was seen entering his lawyer’s office on Thursday amid the developing controversy.
In addition to Letterman, other late-night rivals publicly defended Kimmel. Jimmy Fallon told viewers on Thursday that he hopes Kimmel returns and remains “a decent, funny, and loving guy.” Seth Meyers echoed that sentiment, calling it “a big moment in our democracy” and urging vigilance for the principles of free expression, though Meyers also reportedly spent time at his lawyer’s office amid the period’s legal questions.
Trump himself weighed in on social media, naming Kimmel and Meyers in posts on Truth Social and deriding NBC’s prime-time lineup. The President wrote that Kimmel and Meyers were “two total losers” and criticized their ratings, signaling that the political rancor surrounding late-night hosts remains unreconciled as the industry watches closely for how the situation will unfold across networks.
As of now, Kimmel has not issued a formal statement. NBC and ABC representatives have kept quiet about next steps, and the broader late-night community has urged calm while stressing the importance of free expression and responsible commentary in a volatile political climate. The implications for future late-night programming, talent negotiations, and the balance between entertainment and political discourse remain at the forefront of conversations within Hollywood and the wider media ecosystem.
The Atlantic Festival appearance by Letterman underscored the enduring role of veteran hosts in shaping the public conversation during a period of upheaval in late-night television. With Kimmel’s show temporarily shelved and industry players weighing their positions, observers expect a flurry of reporting and negotiations in the weeks ahead as networks navigate audience expectations, advertiser concerns, and unionized labor dynamics that influence how quickly a replacement plan or new deal might emerge.
As the story develops, viewers and critics alike will be watching not only for a return date for Kimmel but also for how the industry interprets the balance between satire, accountability, and political sensitivity on late-night stages.
