Jimmy Kimmel latest updates: Disney’s ABC and Sinclair took a unilateral decision to indefinitely suspend Jimmy Kimmel‘s late-night show, upon the advice of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Airing since 2003, Jimmy Kimmel Live! has had one of the primetime slots on Friday; it is set to be replaced by a Charlie Kirk special, as per Sinclair’s Vice Chairman’s statement. Drawing flak for comments about Kirk’s death and Tyler Robinson, Kimmel faced a lot of criticism from MAGA online.
As per a Bloomberg report, Walt Disney Co. executives are set to meet Kimmel to discuss the future of the show. As several come out in support of Kimmel, the media giant would also like to put the show back on air, as per the report. Expressing a desire to de-escalate the situation, it was noted that employees on the show faced attacks from the White House and even death threats.
What did Disney say to Kimmel?
Despite Sinclair’s statement urging Kimmel to issue a direct apology to the Kirk family, a Disney spokesperson told Bloomberg that they haven’t asked Kimmel to do so. Known for his overt opposition to Trump, Kimmel has not been shy to criticise US President Donald Trump on his show. Even his contemporaries, Jimmy Fallon and now disbarred Stephen Colbert, have spoken against his moves publicly.
With plans to speak out about the controversy in his opening monologue, Kimmel was advised to tone down his comments. Since both Disney and the host could not find a middle ground, Disney pulled the show. Failing to find the “language” to address the matter, the representatives have not made a public statement that could extinguish the situation.
A Reuters report also revealed that both Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-Chairman Dana Walden, agreed to take the show off the air and later find a way to bring Kimmel back.
Aftermath of Jimmy Kimmel’s comments
What started as a commentary on the event was quickly taken as insensitive remarks about the matter. Addressing the assassination of Charlie Kirk, an active Trump supporter, Kimmel overtly criticised the “MAGA gang” who “desperately tried 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.”
FCC Chair Brendan Carr, in a podcast, spoke about Kimmel’s comments. He noted that his remarks misled viewers and urged the license revocation of the show’s local television stations, terming it “garbage”.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said in an interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson. “These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel.”
It also garnered a comment from Trump, who not only commented on Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension but also called his remarks “horrible” during his visit to Britain.