ABC Pulls Talk Show Off Air after Political Remarks Spark Censorship Debate
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Disney-owned ABC network has indefinitely suspended late-night host after he mocked Trump and conservative figures while commenting on the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, sparking outrage from US officials and renewed debate over censorship.
ABC announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be “pre-empted indefinitely” following remarks the host made about Kirk’s death. Kimmel, who left the Los Angeles studio without comment, had accused the “MAGA gang” of exploiting the murder for political gain.
Kimmel criticized flags flown at half mast for Kirk and ridiculed Trump’s public reaction, saying: “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
Trump welcomed the suspension, calling it “great news for America” and praising ABC for cancelling what he described as “the ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show.” He also attacked Jimmy Fallon and Seth Myers as “total losers.”
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by Trump appointee Brendan Carr, demanded action from ABC. Carr branded Kimmel’s conduct “the sickest possible” and urged Disney to act, while the only Democratic commissioner, Anna Gomez, warned against censorship, saying political violence should not be used to justify broader restrictions on speech.
Hollywood unions condemned the suspension. The Writers Guild of America called it a violation of constitutional rights, while Sag-Aftra described it as suppression that endangers freedom for all.
Nexstar Media, one of the largest US television groups, said it would stop airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! because his remarks were “offensive and insensitive.” Sinclair, another major broadcaster, announced it would replace Kimmel’s slot with a tribute programme for Kirk.
The backlash comes amid broader pressures on late-night television. CBS recently announced the end of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, while earlier this year Disney settled a $15 million lawsuit with Trump after its anchor George Stephanopoulos falsely claimed he had been found “liable for rape.”
Kimmel, a frequent critic of Trump, has previously read the president’s insults live on air. His sudden removal has sparked anger among fans, with protesters outside the Hollywood studio denouncing what they see as political interference and an assault on free expression.
Janna Blackwell, a visitor from Virginia, said: “Freedom of speech. He shared his opinion and is being cancelled. To me that is bizarre.”
The suspension highlights America’s deepening divisions, where criticism of political leaders risks silencing by powerful networks under pressure from government allies.
