Jimmy Kimmel and Charlie Kirk (AP images)
Dozens of ABC affiliate stations will air a special tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night timeslot on Friday, following controversy over the comedian’s remarks about Kirk’s alleged assassin.Sinclair Broadcast Group, which operates 30 ABC affiliates, announced on Wednesday that it would air a program “in remembrance of Charlie Kirk” after Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely. Nexstar Media Group, another large ABC affiliate operator, had already announced it would stop broadcasting Kimmel’s show earlier in the day.“Mr. Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country,” Sinclair Vice Chairman Jason Smith said in a statement. He added that the company would not reinstate the show until “formal discussions” are held with ABC regarding professionalism and accountability, as reported by Fox News. Sinclair also urged Kimmel to apologize directly to the Kirk family and make a personal donation to both the family and Turning Point USA, the conservative group founded by Kirk.Nexstar echoed similar concerns. “Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse,” Nexstar’s broadcasting chief Andrew Alford said. He added that allowing Kimmel’s show to continue airing was “not in the public interest.”The controversy stems from Kimmel’s Monday monologue, in which he accused conservatives of “reaching new lows” by trying to deny that 22-year-old suspect Tyler Robinson, charged with Kirk’s murder, had left-wing ties. Prosecutors reaffirmed those ties in Tuesday’s indictment.Kimmel was sharply criticized for appearing to suggest Robinson was aligned with the MAGA movement. Defenders argue his comments were taken out of context. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kimmel had planned to clarify his remarks on Wednesday’s episode, but Disney suspended the program before he could address the backlash.The fallout has drawn attention beyond the media industry. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr warned Disney to take action, later welcoming the network’s decision. President Donald Trump praised the move as “great news for America,” while some conservatives questioned whether the suspension reflected government overreach.Liberals, meanwhile, condemned Disney’s decision. Representative Daniel Goldman accused the company of “folding to a wannabe mob boss and his authoritarian goons,” criticizing both Trump and the FCC for what he called a violation of free speech.
