Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show has been suspended indefinitely after the US government pressured broadcasters over his comments about the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. ABC, owned by Disney, announced on Wednesday night that it would remove 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' from its schedule for the foreseeable future.
The move has been criticised as part of a broader attack on free speech by the Trump administration, targeting critical voices in media, academia and business. This follows a campaign by the administration and its supporters against anyone deemed not to have properly mourned Kirk, who was shot dead while on a speaking tour in Utah.
President Donald Trump celebrated the suspension, writing on Truth Social: 'Great News for America. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.' He also called for the removal of late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers from NBC.
The suspension came after Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, urged local broadcasters to stop airing the show, warning of potential fines or licence revocation. Nexstar Media and Sinclair Broadcast Group also took action against Kimmel's show, with Sinclair planning a tribute to Kirk during the timeslot.
Kimmel had accused Trump's political movement of exploiting Kirk's death for political gain. In his Monday monologue, he criticised 'Maga gang' efforts to characterise the suspect as anything other than one of them. The suspect, Tyler Robinson, has been charged with aggravated murder and could face the death penalty.
