ABC announced Wednesday it has indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show after the comedian’s remarks about Charlie Kirk’s killing prompted a revolt among affiliated stations and drew sharp criticism from federal regulators.

Kimmel, who has hosted “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” since 2003, commented Monday and Tuesday that “many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk,” suggesting the alleged killer might have been a pro-Trump Republican. His remarks were condemned as “offensive and insensitive” by Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, which operates 23 ABC affiliates and said it would pull the show starting Wednesday.

Protesters gathered outside Kimmel’s Hollywood studio as news of the suspension broke. ABC offered no direct explanation for the decision, and Kimmel — whose contract expires in May 2026 — did not issue a statement.

Former President Donald Trump quickly celebrated the move on Truth Social, writing: “Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.”

Regulatory Pressure

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr called Kimmel’s comments “truly sick” and warned Disney, ABC’s parent company, of potential regulatory consequences. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said, accusing Kimmel of spreading misinformation about the alleged killer’s political leanings.

Authorities say the suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, grew up in a conservative household in southern Utah but shifted to progressive views in the past year. Investigators said Robinson targeted Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred.”

Broader Context

The suspension comes at a critical time for Disney and Nexstar, both seeking federal approvals for major business deals. Disney is awaiting the FCC’s nod on ESPN’s acquisition of the NFL Network, while Nexstar is pursuing a $6.2 billion purchase of rival broadcaster Tegna.

Late-night TV has increasingly collided with U.S. politics. CBS announced this summer it would cancel Stephen Colbert’s show in May 2026, a decision some critics linked to his anti-Trump stance. Trump, who has long targeted Kimmel and Colbert, celebrated both developments.

Free Speech Concerns

The suspension also drew criticism from free-expression advocates. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez accused the administration of “using the weight of government power to suppress lawful expression.” Ari Cohn, lead counsel at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said, “We cannot be a country where late-night talk show hosts serve at the pleasure of the president.”

ABC has not indicated whether Kimmel’s show will return. But with regulatory scrutiny and political tensions mounting, the network’s decision underscores how late-night comedy has become an unlikely battleground in America’s ongoing culture war.