ABC Pulls ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Following Controversial Charlie Kirk Comments
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/jimmy-kimmel-charlie-kirk-091725-f9782776cf884d09aa3552d30edb7bf2.jpg)
ABC has made the decision to indefinitely pull ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ after host Jimmy Kimmel made comments regarding the death of Charlie Kirk. This move was confirmed by an ABC spokesperson to PEOPLE on Wednesday, September 17. Kimmel’s remarks about Charlie Kirk led to the removal of his late-night show, as reported by Variety. When approached for comment, representatives for Kimmel did not immediately respond.
The decision to pull ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ comes in the midst of a feud between Kimmel and President Donald Trump. Trump previously predicted that Kimmel would be the next late-night host to face consequences after CBS canceled ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ in July 2025. Kimmel himself had hinted at potentially ending his show, with comments in a 2024 interview suggesting that his current contract, which ends in 2024, might be his last.
With a hosting career on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ that dates back to 2003, Kimmel has not shied away from publicly criticising President Trump. This has occasionally put him in the president’s line of fire, especially for jokes made at Trump’s expense during the Oscars. Trump, in response to ‘The Late Show’ cancellation, took to his Truth Social account to claim that Kimmel would be the next to leave late-night television, followed by Jimmy Fallon.
Kimmel, during a summer break with his family, shared an image on Instagram of them at an anti-Trump protest, captioned with a quote allegedly from a letter written by Trump to Jeffrey Epstein. The post reflected Kimmel’s frustration towards the president’s administration. Additionally, when ‘The Late Show’ was canceled, Kimmel stood in support of his colleague Stephen Colbert, criticising the network’s decision on his Instagram Stories.
In a podcast interview from 2022, Kimmel revealed that he had considered quitting his show if he were not allowed to make jokes about Trump. He expressed understanding towards potential repercussions, stating, “If you want someone else to host the show, that’s fine with me. I’m just not going to do it like that.” This sentiment echoed his commitment to maintaining his comedic style even at the risk of losing viewers.
The ongoing tensions between Kimmel and Trump have only escalated following the announcement of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ being pulled from airing. The future of the show remains uncertain, with fans and critics eagerly anticipating any further developments in this latest chapter of late-night television drama. Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving situation.
As debates around freedom of expression and censorship continue to resonate in the entertainment industry, the fallout from Kimmel’s comments and ABC’s decision reinforces the complex relationship between media personalities and political figures. The impact of such controversies on late-night television and the broader cultural landscape remains a topic of interest for viewers and industry stakeholders alike.