After Jimmy Kimmel made remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death on his show, ABC suspended the program indefinitely.
Walt Disney-owned ABC (DIS.N) said on Wednesday it was taking Jimmy Kimmel Live off the air after remarks by the late-night host about Charlie Kirk’s assassination prompted a warning from the head of the top U.S. communications regulator to Disney.
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President Donald Trump, who has often pressured broadcasters to drop content he deems objectionable and urged the Federal Communications Commission to revoke station licenses, celebrated the news in a social media post.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely,” an ABC spokesperson told media, without providing further details.
Reacting to the suspension, President Donald Trump called it “great news for America.” He said the “ratings-challenged show” was effectively cancelled and congratulated ABC for “finally having the courage to do what had to be done.” Trump added that Kimmel has “zero talent.”
In his Monday night monologue, Jimmy Kimmel accused the “MAGA gang” of exploiting Charlie Kirk’s killing for political gain.
“The MAGA gang is desperately trying to portray the kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of their own, while doing everything possible to score political points,” Kimmel said.
The late-night host also criticised flags being flown at half-mast in Kirk’s honour and mocked the president’s response to the shooting.
“This isn’t how an adult mourns the murder of someone he calls a friend,” Kimmel remarked. “This is how a four-year-old grieves a goldfish.”
The suspect in conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s murder case appeared before a court here virtually.
Accused Tyler Robinson appeared via video link before the Fourth Judicial District Courthouse in Provo on Tuesday.
Robinson was charged on Tuesday, September 16, with aggravated murder, along with obstruction of justice and witness tampering. Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk, a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, shocked the nation last week.
At Utah Valley University, where the shooting took place, students returned to campus on Wednesday for the first time since the incident. Many gathered silently in the courtyard where Kirk was killed.