Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show has been pulled off the air, but discussions are reportedly underway to bring it back. According to a report in Vanity Fair, the comedian’s business and legal representatives are in deep talks with Disney and ABC to find a compromise that could allow Jimmy Kimmel Live to resume its 23rd season. The report further said that the channel has warned Kimmel to avoid political comments, particularly those targeting former President Trump.
Why was the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ show pulled off air suddenly?
The long-running ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ show was abruptly removed from its regular 11:35 pm slot on September 17. Disney said the program was being taken off its schedule ‘indefinitely’ after two of the biggest station groups in the US, Nexstar and Sinclair, decided to stop airing it. The decision came in as a response to Kimmel’s remarks about former President Donald Trump and the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
No official statement yet from Kimmel or Disney
So far, neither Kimmel nor Disney has spoken about the issue or issued any public statement. This has left the host and his team unsure about what will happen next. As per insider sources, Kimmel is worried about the impact on his Los Angeles-based staff, many of whom are still recovering financially after the Hollywood actors’ strike in 2023.
Kimmel has been hosting ABC’s late-night show since 2003 and is one of the channel’s most familiar faces. He has also hosted big events like the Oscars and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. His sudden exit is a major shake-up for ABC’s late-night lineup.
The controversial remarks
The controversy started when Kimmel spoke about Charlie Kirk’s death in his opening monologue. The 57-year-old comedian said the accused killer was a Trump supporter, but officials later said he followed a leftist ideology. Kimmel also accused conservatives of using the case for political gain.
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,” Kimmel said on air.
Kimmel’s comments quickly led to a major backlash. By Wednesday, the show was taken off air, and reports said he refused several requests to apologise. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr also criticised the remarks, saying TV networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS must serve the public interest. He warned that Kimmel’s comments could have misled viewers.
Former President Trump, a frequent target of Kimmel’s humour, welcomed the cancellation. In a social media post, he mocked the host’s ratings and hinted at going after other late-night personalities who often criticise him.
Future of Jimmy Kimmel Live
This is not the first time Kimmel’s sharp political commentary has caused friction. ABC had previously urged him to avoid controversial political remarks, particularly those involving Trump. Speaking on a podcast with Howie Mandel last week, Kimmel acknowledged that the network had once been nervous about his jokes when Disney was trying to buy Fox. “If you want to have a big audience, you don’t want to piss a lot of people off and I was pissing a lot of people off,” he said.
For now, the question, ‘if Jimmy Kimmel Live will return’ remains uncertain. Negotiations between Disney, ABC, and Kimmel’s representatives continue, but no resolution has been announced yet.