Summary:
- It’s about the cancellation of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!“ from 32 ABC stations due to controversial comments made by host Jimmy Kimmel regarding the death of Charlie Kirk, a prominent right-wing political activist. This decision was made by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., which owns and operates many of these stations, citing the comments as insensitive and not in line with the values of local communities.
- The backlash against Kimmel’s remarks led to significant public and organizational response, including petitions and discussions on platforms like Change.org, reflecting broader tensions around media responsibility and political discourse. The incident highlights the polarized nature of public reactions to political figures’ deaths and the role of media in shaping these responses.
- The context of Charlie Kirk’s death, as detailed in Wikipedia, involved widespread condemnation and calls for accountability from various groups, leading to a climate where criticism of Kirk resulted in severe consequences like death threats and firings. This environment likely influenced the decision by Nexstar to preempt Kimmel’s show, illustrating the complex interplay between media content, public opinion, and corporate policy in a politically charged atmosphere.
Jimmy Kimmel’s cancellation from 32 ABC stations, as announced by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., stemmed from comments he made during his monologue on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” regarding the death of Charlie Kirk, a prominent right-wing political activist. The specific remarks that led to this decision were made on Monday, September 16, 2025, and are detailed in the video clip shared by Jeremy Kamali on X.In the monologue, Kimmel stated:
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
This comment was part of a broader discussion where Kimmel criticized the MAGA movement for allegedly attempting to distance themselves from the individual responsible for Kirk’s murder, suggesting they were using the tragedy for political gain. The remarks were perceived as insensitive and misrepresentative, especially given the context of Kirk’s death and the political climate surrounding it.
Nexstar Media Group, in their statement, objected to Kimmel’s comments, stating they were “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse” and did not reflect the values of the local communities served by their stations. This led to the decision to preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely, starting with the episode scheduled for that night.
The backlash was further amplified by public and organizational responses, including petitions on Change.org and discussions on social media, reflecting broader tensions around media responsibility and political discourse. The incident underscores the polarized nature of public reactions to political figures’ deaths and the significant impact of media content on these reactions.