The silence in late-night television this week is not from laughter dying down, but from a network decision that has left one of its most familiar voices abruptly absent — and an entire industry on edge.
ABC has pulled the show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” — hosted by comedian Jimmy Kimmel — from its lineup following mounting backlash over Kimmel’s remarks on Monday, September 15, 2025, about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University.
This announcement has sent shockwaves through the television industry and thrust late-night’s most polarizing voice into a crisis with real-world consequences.
Jimmy Kimmel at The Walt Disney Company’s Emmy Awards Party held at Vibiana in Los Angeles, California on September 14, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
In his Monday night monologue, Kimmel criticized the political response to Kirk’s death and made pointed comments about Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of killing Kirk. By Wednesday, September 17, 2025, the network confirmed that the show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was being “pre-empted indefinitely.”
The network’s quick fix came in the form of reruns of Steve Harvey’s “Celebrity Family Feud,” which quietly replaced Kimmel’s in the 11:35 p.m. slot on Wednesday and Thursday nights.
Harvey’s show features teams of celebrities and their families competing to identify the top responses to questions asked of 100 people.
Steve Harvey attends Invest Fest 2025 at Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta on August 23 | Source: Getty Images
ABC Affiliates in Turmoil as Network Issues Emergency Memo over Kimmel Controversy
ABC affiliates across the country were caught in the middle of the storm as station executives received an urgent memo acknowledging the controversy and warning that “formal guidance from Disney/ABC is forthcoming,” but made clear that the affiliate board “remains engaged with ABC” on the controversy.
The programming shuffle was first reported after the network’s affiliates were briefed, but an insider has reportedly noted that no formal decision has been made about the fate of Kimmel’s show.
Jimmy Kimmel and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, are at The Walt Disney Company’s Emmy Awards Party held at Vibiana in Los Angeles, California on September 14, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
Broadcasting Giants Nexstar and Sinclair Pull Plug on Late-Night Host amid Outrage
The most decisive response to Kimmel’s remark came from the network’s most powerful partners. Nexstar Media Group, the largest local broadcast and digital media company in the U.S., was the first to announce it would pull the show from all 32 of its ABC stations.
“Continuing to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve is simply not in the public interest at the current time,” said Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division.
A photo of Nexstar Media Group, Inc. logo is seen on a smartphone and a pc screen | Source: Getty Images
Sinclair Broadcast Group, another key ABC affiliate owner, followed Nexstar’s lead and suspended the show from its platforms. But Sinclair went further — issuing a sharp rebuke of Kimmel’s remarks and demanding a public response from the host himself.
“Mr. Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country,” said Sinclair Vice Chairman Jason Smith.
While Sinclair also called on Kimmel to directly apologize to Kirk’s family and make a “meaningful personal donation” to Turning Point USA, the broadcast group confirmed it would replace Kimmel’s show on Friday night with a televised tribute to Charlie Kirk.
The sign for Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is seen near their headquarters in Cockeysville, Maryland on July 17, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Hollywood Spotlight Turns to Controversy
Just days before the controversy exploded into headlines, the Television Academy had announced actress Sydney Sweeney as a presenter for the concluded 77th Emmy Awards held on Sunday, September 14, 2025 — a moment of typical Hollywood celebration that now sits in sharp contrast to the week’s escalating tensions.
The news underscores how quickly the entertainment spotlight can shift — from celebration to crisis — within the same television landscape.
Jimmy Kimmel, who has hosted the late-night series since 2003, was spotted arriving at his lawyer’s office in Los Angeles on Thursday, a day after ABC announced the suspension of the show.
Uncertain Future for Kimmel and Late-Night Television
Kimmel’s career at ABC has seen him go from comedian to cultural commentator — but today, the show that once dominated its time slot is in indefinite limbo.
The stakes are no longer just about ratings, as what lies ahead is uncertain, with both the network and its viewers weighing the future of late-night’s most polarizing host.
