Late-night TV saw a surprise shake-up this week. Jimmy Kimmel Live! went off the air without warning. This sudden move left many fans and scheduled guests in a lurch.
Among those caught off guard was comedian Wanda Sykes. She was all set to chat with Jimmy Kimmel on Wednesday, September 17th. Sykes even had her makeup done for the appearance.
She took to Instagram to share her thoughts. In a video, Sykes mentioned the show’s indefinite pull. She pointed fingers at the Trump administration. Sykes claimed their complaints led to the show’s abrupt removal. She felt it was an attack on "freedom of speech."
ABC later confirmed the show’s suspension. A spokesperson told Us Weekly the show was off "indefinitely." This decision came after major criticism. Nexstar Media Group, a company running 32 ABC channels, spoke out. They announced they would stop airing Kimmel’s show.
Nexstar wasn’t happy with comments Kimmel made. These remarks were from the Monday, September 15th episode. They were about the death of Charlie Kirk.
During that broadcast, Kimmel discussed Tyler Robinson. Robinson was arrested in connection with Kirk’s September 10th death. Kimmel said the "MAGA gang" hit "new lows" trying to distance themselves. He added they were using it for political gain.
The Federal Communications Commission also got involved. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called Kimmel’s comments "sickening." He urged ABC to take action against the host.