Sinclair Broadcast Group will remove Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its ABC affiliates, replacing the Friday timeslot with a tribute special for conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. The company is also urging ABC to pull the show nationwide and demanding that Kimmel issue a formal apology and financial donation to Kirk’s family and Turning Point USA, the group Kirk founded.
The decision follows similar moves by Nexstar Media Group, another major ABC affiliate owner, which also pulled the late-night program after Kimmel’s recent comments about Kirk’s death. ABC has since suspended production of the show indefinitely.
Sinclair’s Demands and Position
In a statement, Sinclair Vice Chairman Jason Smith called Kimmel’s remarks “inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country.” He added that broadcasters have a duty to foster “respectful, constructive dialogue” and praised the FCC for weighing regulatory action against national networks.
Sinclair has pledged not to reinstate the show until ABC demonstrates “a commitment to professionalism and accountability.” Even if ABC resumes production, the broadcaster says it will continue the blackout until those conditions are met.
Critics Call It Censorship
The removal has drawn swift criticism from media and political voices who see the decision as censorship.
The Writers Guild of America condemned the move, saying:
“As a Guild, we stand united in opposition to anyone who uses their power and influence to silence the voices of writers, or anyone who speaks in dissent.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom echoed those concerns on social media:
“Buying and controlling media platforms. Firing commentators. Canceling shows. These aren’t coincidences. It’s coordinated. And it’s dangerous. The GOP does not believe in free speech. They are censoring you in real time.”
SAG-AFTRA also weighed in, framing the suspension as a direct threat to democracy:
“Democracy thrives when diverse points of view are expressed. The decision to suspend airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! is the type of suppression and retaliation that endangers everyone’s freedoms.”
Former President Barack Obama criticized the action as a political weaponization of broadcast regulation:
“After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.”
Broader Implications
Sinclair’s announcement arrives as the company undergoes a “comprehensive strategic review” of its broadcast portfolio, which could include sales or acquisitions subject to FCC approval.
The controversy highlights the deepening conflict between broadcasters, political influence, and public trust in media. Whether Kimmel’s show returns to ABC’s lineup may depend less on late-night comedy and more on the growing national debate over who gets to decide what Americans see on their screens.
