A major shake-up hit the world of late-night TV this week. ABC decided to pull the plug on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" for an unknown amount of time. This surprising move came after host Jimmy Kimmel made some strong comments about the death of Charlie Kirk. Many celebrities voiced their shock and opinions.
An ABC spokesperson confirmed the show’s indefinite suspension. This news came out on Wednesday, September 17, as reported by Us Weekly. Kimmel’s show was put on hold after remarks he made on his Monday, September 15 episode. He spoke about Tyler Robinson, who is accused of killing Kirk. Kirk, who was 31, helped start Turning Point USA. He was tragically shot and killed during a conference on a university campus in Utah.
Kimmel didn’t hold back in his monologue. "Things really sank low over the weekend," he said. "The MAGA crowd tried to paint this guy who killed Charlie Kirk as anything but one of them." His words sparked a lot of discussion.
Nexstar Media, a company owning many TV stations, also weighed in. They told Variety on Wednesday that they planned to suspend "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" The company stated they "strongly disagreed" with Kimmel’s comments about Kirk.
Before this controversial monologue, Kimmel had spoken out against gun violence. He shared his thoughts on Instagram earlier that month. "Instead of pointing fingers, can we just agree for one day that shooting another human being is awful and monstrous?" he wrote. "From my family, we send our love to the Kirks. We also think of all the children, parents, and innocent people hurt by senseless gun violence." Us Weekly tried to get a comment from Kimmel, but has not heard back.
The indefinite suspension of Kimmel’s show quickly got stars talking. Here’s what some of them had to say:
Ben Stiller
Actor Ben Stiller shared an article about Kimmel’s suspension. He added his own short, clear message alongside it on X: "This is not right."
President Donald Trump
Former President Donald Trump quickly weighed in on Truth Social. He declared it "Good news for America." Trump went on to say that Kimmel’s show, which he called "questionable" in ratings, had been "CANCELED." He then praised ABC "for finally having the courage to do what had to be done." Trump also called Kimmel "absolutely no talent" and claimed his show had "worse audience than even Colbert." He then criticized other late-night hosts, saying Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers were "two complete losers, on Fake News NBC." He ended by urging NBC to cancel their shows too, signing off as "President DJT."
Sophia Bush
Actress Sophia Bush also shared the news about Kimmel being taken off the air. She posted her thoughts on X, writing, "The First Amendment no longer exists in America. Fascism is here and it’s chilling."