Kimmel’s Show Canceled Due to Comments on Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
The man charged with Kirk’s assassination in Utah, Tyler Robinson, is said to be a supporter of US President Donald Trump. Kimmel’s comments suggested that Robinson is not one of them and criticized those trying to score political points from the incident.
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“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said on his late-night talk show.
Prior to ABC’s announcement, Nexstar Media, the largest local TV station owners, including at least 28 ABC affiliates, had also decided to stop airing the show due to the host’s remarks.
Nexstar Media President Andrew Alford stated that Kimmel’s comments were “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse”, and did not reflect the values of local communities.
While Robinson has been formally charged with Charlie Kirk’s murder, with Utah prosecutors seeking the death penalty, the motive behind the incident remains unclear.
Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), described Kimmel’s comments as the “sickest conduct possible” in an interview. He also hinted at the possibility of ABC affiliates risking their licence revocation due to the “pattern of news distortion”.
Following the cancellation of Kimmel’s show on Nexstar, Carr thanked the company for “doing the right thing”. Other stations have expressed concerns regarding the show’s content, indicating a potential affiliate revolt.
This incident marks the latest in a series of firings in response to public comments about Kirk’s assassination, deemed insensitive by conservatives. The controversy surrounding these events has reignited the debate over the boundaries of free speech in the US.
