Talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live! suspended over comments on Charlie Kirk
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New York: The American television network ABC has announced it is suspending a popular show Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely over the host Kimmel’s remarks about the killing of Charlie Kirk, The Guardian reported.
Charlie Kirk, an ally of US President Donald Trump, was shot dead at a public event in Utah last week after22-year-old Tyler Robinson fired shot from a rooftop.
The network, owned by Disney, made the decision after the US broadcast regulator reportedly threatened to revoke broadcasters’ licenses if action was not taken against Kimmel.
An ABC spokesperson announced that ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be preempted indefinitely’ meaning the channel would broadcast another show in the slot instead.
President Trump congratulated the ABC’s decision saying that it is a ‘great news for America’ adding ‘That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC’.
Presenting the show with a monologue on Monday, a few days after Trump supporter Kirk was shot dead, Kimmel said ‘We hit some new lows over the weekend with the Maga gang trying to characterize this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it’.
Kimmel opened Tuesday night’s show saying: “Many in Maga-land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk.” Alongside, he alleged that US vice-president, JD Vance was blaming the left for Kirk’s death without presenting evidence.
Meanwhile, Nexstar Media, one of the biggest owners of TV stations in the US, stated as ‘strongly’ objecting to Kimmel’s comments.
The Federal Communications Commission chair, Brendan Carr, asked local broadcasters not to air the show warning ‘the possibility of fines or licensed revocation from the FCC’.
Tyler Robinson, the suspect in Charlie Kirk murder case, was charged with aggravated murder, witness tampering and use of firearm.
It is reported that if charges are proved in the court he could face death penalty. Kimmel is yet to respond to the suspension of the show.