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Credit: Video Screenshot, 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', ABCOn September 10, 2025, extreme conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an appearance at Utah Valley University as part of his American Comeback Tour. Kirk’s assassination set off a political firestorm, with many Republicans immediately claiming Kirk was killed by a person on the left, even before anyone knew who the shooter was.
One day later, on the evening of September 11, police arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. Robinson is reportedly not cooperating with investigators, but they have spoken to his family members and roommate, who is reportedly his partner. Robinson’s grandmother told reporters that their family is MAGA, but they had allegedly discussed that they did not like Charlie Kirk and his points of view.
Kirk’s killing was headline news for days, with a lot of speculation being made about his political affiliation. There were debates about the danger of jumping to conclusions, as it could spark even more politically-motivated violence.
On Monday, September 15, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel spoke about the shooting, saying that the MAGA base was trying to distance itself from Mr. Robinson. He also commented on Donald Trump’s response to being asked about how he was coping with Kirk’s death. Trump said that he was “very good,” and then immediately began talking about construction on the new White House ballroom.
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying 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.”
“He’s at the fourth stage of grief, construction. This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
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Mr. Kimmel was immediately attacked by many on the right for his comments, and people like Donald Trump even called for ABC to cancel Kimmel’s long-running show. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr also stepped in, telling Disney that it could do things “the easy way or the hard way.”
Disney and ABC decided to do things the easy way, caved to the pressure, and on September 17, they decided to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air indefinitely. The move came after Nexstar Media, which owns local television stations around the country, said it would not air the show on any station it owned.
Now, another ABC affiliate is stepping in, saying that if Mr. Kimmel wants to get back on the air, he will need to meet their list of demands.
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Sinclair Broadcasting, the largest ABC affiliate in the United States, said that Disney and ABC’s decision to pull Mr. Kimmel off the air was “not enough,” and that certain demands would have to be met if Sinclair was to air Jimmy Kimmel Live! again.
The demand list includes the following conditions:
- A “direct apology” from Kimmel to Kirk’s family.
- A “meaningful” donation to Kirk’s family and his organization, Turning Point USA.
- Appropriate steps taken to “uphold the standards expected of a national broadcast platform.”
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Sinclair has said that, in place of Jimmy Kimmel Live!’s time slot on Friday, September 19, it would air an “in remembrance” special on Charlie Kirk.
In the wake of Kimmel’s suspension, Disney, ABC, and Bob Iger have faced a flurry of backlash. The Producers Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America, and the Screen Actors Guild have all condemned Disney’s decision. Multiple actors, late-night hosts — including Jon Stewart and David Letterman — and even former president Barack Obama have said that suspending Mr. Kimmel will have a “cooling effect,” and is a threat to the very concept of free speech.
What do you think about Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension? Should talk-show hosts be punished for things that they say, or is it covered under the protection of free speech? Do you think Mr. Kimmel should have to meet any conditions, or should Disney and ABC reverse their decision to pull his show off the air? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.