Jimmy Kimmel couldn’t help but gloat about his post-suspension viewership spike, going so far as to publicly thank President Donald Trump for making it all possible. But after a very brief ratings boost, those numbers have come crashing back down to normal.
The ABC late-night host was temporarily taken off the air after comments he made about assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk. After a suspension that lasted less than a week, Kimmel returned to the air with a tearful non-apology, whining about how his words must have been misconstrued.
Kimmel’s return last Tuesday evening drew a record-breaking 6.3 million viewers, more than triple his regular audience. By Thursday, those numbers had dropped by 64%, leveling off at 2.3 million.
In the coveted demographic of viewers aged 25-54, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” dropped from 1.7 million viewers on Tuesday to 465,000 on Thursday, according to <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/09/29/media/jimmy-kimmel-sheds-64-of-audience-after-short-lived-ratings-spike-following-suspension/">The New York Post</a>.
The saga began earlier this month when Kimmel was accused of slandering conservatives when he suggested Kirk’s assassin was part of the “MAGA gang,” despite authorities saying otherwise. “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 said at the time.
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While the host addressed the controversy during his return monologue, many viewers found his comments to be insincere, noting that he stopped short of apologizing for what he had said.
“Kimmel is an unrepentant liar who tried to blame Charlie’s assassination on the part of the country that just spent the last 2 weeks praying and holding vigils,” Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet said in response, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/unrepentant-liar-charlie-kirks-team-is-not-buying-jimmy-kimmels-crocodile-tears">reported</a>. “What he’s really saying is that he still thinks it’s fair game to slander conservatives. He would rather advance his own political and cultural agenda than confront the truth.”
Kolvet added, “It’s critical that liars admit they lied. There can be no restoration without that. Anything short of that is a fake and scripted cry line designed to endear him to his fans, not to make right the wrong he committed.”
The Left is exploiting Kimmel’s suspension to push the narrative that free speech is under siege and to fault the Trump administration for silencing critics. But others have noted how ABC made a business decision to suspend Kimmel, which they were well within their rights to do.

Jimmy Kimmel

Jimmy Kimmel’s Ratings Spike Crashes Back Down To His Usual Terrible Numbers

Jimmy Kimmel Viewership Spike Crashes Back Down To Terrible Numbers As Usual

Charlie Kirk

Donald Trump

Entertainment

Media

Television

U.S.

Cable providers Nexstar and Sinclair reversed course on Friday, saying that they would stop preempting the ABC late-night comedy show hosted by Jimmy Kimmel beginning that night — after about a week of refusing to air &#8220;Jimmy Kimmel Live.&#8221;
Nexstar released a statement regarding the change on Friday afternoon, stating that the decision had been made after discussions with ABC parent company Disney — and that the intent was to bring programming that the public would appreciate and enjoy.
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&#8220;We have had discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company and appreciate their constructive approach to addressing our concerns,” Nexstar said. “As a local broadcaster, Nexstar remains committed to protecting the First Amendment while producing and airing local and national news that is fact-based and unbiased and, above all, broadcasting content that is in the best interest of the communities we serve. We stand apart from cable television, monolithic streaming services, and national networks in our commitment — and obligation — to be stewards of the public airwaves and to protect and reflect the specific sensibilities of our communities.”
&#8220;To be clear, our commitment to those principles has guided our decisions throughout this process, independent of any external influence from government agencies or individuals,&#8221; the statement added.
Sinclair released a similar statement on Friday as well, saying that the broadcast corporation remained committed to providing quality entertainment and had also discussed the matter at length with ABC.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sinclair announces end of preemption of Jimmy Kimmel Live! &#8211; show returns to air this evening on Sinclair’s ABC affiliates <a href="https://t.co/DvBwhhuV4Z">pic.twitter.com/DvBwhhuV4Z</a>
— Sinclair, Inc. (@WeAreSinclair) <a href="https://twitter.com/WeAreSinclair/status/1971636546534285506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Kimmel drew ire over comments he made about assassinated conservative commentator Charlie Kirk — suggesting that the “MAGA gang” was desperate to use the shooting for political purposes — and was eventually preempted by both Nexstar and Sinclair. ABC parent company Disney responded by suspending him “indefinitely,” but he was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jimmy-kimmel-returns-addresses-charlie-kirk-comments-in-teary-non-apology">returned</a> to the air on Tuesday despite still being preempted by Nexstar and Sinclair at the time.

Jimmy Kimmel Blackout Officially Ends As Nexstar, Sinclair Reverse Course

Politics

Google Bay Bridge

We Just Got Proof Of A Huge Attack On Free Speech, And It Has Nothing To Do With Jimmy Kimmel

Big Tech

Conservatives

Free Speech

Google

Jake Tapper

Matt Walsh

Social Media Censorship

Twitter

YouTube

Comedian Roseanne Barr is voicing her frustration with Jimmy Kimmel&#8217;s return on Tuesday night after being suspended for less than a week due to controversial comments, claiming that when a similar situation happened to her, it ruined her “whole life.”
&#8220;It just shows how they think. I got my whole life ruined, no forgiveness, all of my work stolen, and called a racist for time and eternity, for racially misgendering someone,&#8221; the sitcom star told NewsNation during an interview on Tuesday. &#8220;It&#8217;s a double standard.&#8221;
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Despite strong ratings, Barr was written off &#8220;The Conners&#8221; in 2018 after she tweeted that former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett looked like the offspring of the “Muslim Brotherhood &amp; Planet of the Apes.&#8221;
Barr deleted the post and apologized, but her career and reputation were permanently damaged. 
Barr claimed that at the time, Kimmel &#8220;called me a racist even though I said repeatedly, which they repeatedly censored, that it was a mistake. I thought that the woman was a white woman from Iran.&#8221; 
Jarrett was born in Iran to black parents.
She added that Kimmel &#8220;called me a racist even though he himself appeared in blackface on their network many times.&#8221;
Kimmel just returned to his late-night show following a six-day suspension that came after comments he made about the individual who assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk. 
“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,” Kimmel said, which prompted his show to be taken off the air temporarily.
The late-night host was back after six days, with Disney reps saying, “We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”
During his first monologue Tuesday night following the suspension, Kimmel referenced his comments about the Kirk assassination but did not apologize for them.
“It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel said as he became audibly emotional. “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it … nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for what was the actions … of an obviously deeply disturbed individual.”
Kimmel previously apologized for appearing in blackface, saying in a 2020 statement, &#8220;There is nothing more important to me than your respect, and I apologize to those who were genuinely hurt or offended by the makeup I wore or the words I spoke.&#8221;

Roseanne Barr

Roseanne Argues Kimmel’s Return Exposes ‘Double Standard’: ‘I Got My Whole Life Ruined’

Celebrities

Censorship

President Donald Trump ripped into ABC on Tuesday for lifting Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, suggesting that he might take legal action against the television network. 
Kimmel made his return to TV on Tuesday after being suspended for nearly a week over comments he made about the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. In a Truth Social post responding to the move, Trump attacked both Kimmel and ABC. 
“I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there,” Trump wrote. “Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE.”
Trump stated that he may take legal action against ABC over Kimmel’s partisan bias, claiming it could constitute an &#8220;illegal campaign contribution.&#8221;
“He is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution. I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings,” Trump added. 
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-wins-millions-in-defamation-suit-against-abc-news-george-stephanopoulos">previously</a> won $16 million from ABC after he sued for defamation after host George Stephanopoulos falsely claimed that Trump was found “liable for rape.&#8221;
Kimmel had claimed that Kirk’s assassin was part of Donald Trump&#8217;s &#8220;Make America Great Again&#8221; movement. Investigators say that the 22-year-old man arrested for Kirk’s killing was deeply steeped in leftist ideology and disliked Kirk for his conservative views.
“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,” <a href="https://x.com/newsbusters/status/1967982924986487284">said</a> Kimmel.
In his return on Tuesday night, Kimmel claimed that “it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.”
“I don’t think there’s anything funny about it … nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for what was the actions … of an obviously deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make. But I understand that to some that felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both, and to those who think I did point a finger, I get why you’re upset,” Kimmel said. 
Despite ABC lifting Kimmel’s suspension, major broadcast groups Sinclair and Nexstar have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/another-broadcasting-company-refuses-to-air-kimmels-show?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Another+Broadcasting+Company+Refuses+To+Air+Kimmel’s+Show">both said</a> they will not air new episodes of Kimmel’s show. The two companies own about 80 ABC affiliates. Sinclair has demanded that Kimmel apologize and make a financial donation to Kirk&#8217;s family.

MixCollage-24-Sep-2025-06-58-AM-7470

‘A True Bunch Of Losers’: Trump Rips Into ABC For Ending Jimmy Kimmel Suspension

Executive

President Donald Trump unloads on the United Nations, Google admits it caved to the Biden administration&#8217;s censorship demands, and Jimmy Kimmel returns to late-night after a short suspension.
It’s Wednesday, September 24, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
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If you would rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump At United Nations: Leftist Ideas Driving Countries To Ruin</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-976157" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Trump-Scorches-U.N-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Trump-Scorches-U.N-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Trump-Scorches-U.N-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Trump-Scorches-U.N-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Trump-Scorches-U.N-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Trump-Scorches-U.N.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: In a scathing speech Tuesday, President Trump slammed world leaders at the United Nations, warning that their countries are “going to hell.”
What he said: Donald Trump spoke for about an hour and unloaded on the UN, calling it incompetent, inefficient, weak, and warning that mass migration, climate alarmism, and political correctness were laying siege to the organization’s founding principles.
“What is the purpose of the United Nations? The UN has such tremendous potential,” <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1970495659938652526">said</a> Trump. “For the most part, at least for now, all they seem to do is write a strongly worded letter, and then never follow that letter up. It&#8217;s empty words — and empty words do not solve war. The only thing that solves war &#8230; is action.”
On immigration: Trump devoted much of his speech to immigration, warning Western allies that their insistence on allowing unfettered mass migration was destroying their countries from within. 
“When your prisons are filled with so-called asylum seekers who repaid kindness with crime, it&#8217;s time to end the failed experiment of open borders,” <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/1970501963264483514">said</a> Trump.
On energy: Trump took aim at the UN’s decades-long push to embrace far-left green energy initiatives, which he said have been ineffective, thereby increasing our reliance on China and other bad actors. 
On a Palestinian state: The topic of a Palestinian state arguably received more attention than any other issue at this week’s gathering, as influential member states have joined the call for Palestinian statehood. But President Trump remained adamant that such a move would only reward Hamas terrorists and incentivize more October 7th-style attacks. 
“The rewards would be too great for Hamas terrorists for their atrocities; this would be a reward for these horrible atrocities, including October 7th, even while they refuse to release the hostages or accept the ceasefire,” the president said.
Trump turns hard against Putin: After his address, Trump had a separate meeting with Volodmyr Zelensky and emerged with a much more supportive stance on Ukraine than in the past. Trump initially vowed to end the war on day one of his presidency, and then in recent months said Ukraine would need to accept a deal that resulted in handing over territory to Putin.
But on Tuesday, he said the Ukrainians can retake 20% of their land currently held by Russia. Writing on Truth Social, the president said that after getting to know and fully understand the situation, “I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form. With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option.”
Step back: This could be a leverage play to try to bring Putin back to the negotiating table, but regardless, this shift was music to the ears of NATO and many UN allies.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Biden Behind Clampdown On Conservative Speech, Google Says</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-976155" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Google-Reverses-Bans-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Google-Reverses-Bans-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Google-Reverses-Bans-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Google-Reverses-Bans-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Google-Reverses-Bans-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Google-Reverses-Bans.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: Google admitted Tuesday to caving to censorship pressure from the Biden administration – and is committing to allowing all creators who it kicked off YouTube over so-called political speech “violations” the chance to return. 
Morning Wire spoke with House Judiciary Committee chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), who has played a meaningful role in driving forward investigations into the “censorship industrial complex” targeting conservatives.
Jordan on Google’s letter: “They (Google and YouTube), in fact, were censoring Americans. They had kicked some people off the YouTube platform altogether – you, your channel, you&#8217;re gone. They&#8217;ve agreed to reinstate those individuals, which I think is good. They&#8217;ve said they will not use the fact-checkers, like other platforms have done – which was a big problem because fact-checkers are typically really biased against conservatives. I thought it was, again, a win for the First Amendment, a win for free expression.”
What’s next? Jordan can’t rest easy on the victory. He is concerned that the next threat to free expression has already begun to creep across the Atlantic in the form of European speech codes. The Google letter specifically mentioned two European speech codes: the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act.
Jordan said: “They talked about the danger that now exists from Europe and what they&#8217;re doing and how that could, in fact, happen to Americans. And I think that&#8217;s a key point as well, because that&#8217;s something we (the Judiciary Committee) are now beginning to look at.”
Jordan mentioned the case of Irish comedian Graham Linehan, who was arrested in Britain over X posts mocking transgender ideology.
“I think it&#8217;s just a matter of time before that happens to an American,” said Jordan. “We&#8217;re particularly concerned about that relative to YouTube. There&#8217;s still this issue, I think, that we&#8217;re trying to make sure we understand fully: how people are monetizing their content or being demonetized.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Kimmel Claims Martyrdom While Kirk’s Legacy Grows</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-976153" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Jimmy-Kimmel-Returns-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Jimmy-Kimmel-Returns-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Jimmy-Kimmel-Returns-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Jimmy-Kimmel-Returns-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Jimmy-Kimmel-Returns-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/Jimmy-Kimmel-Returns.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is back on air, but with limited viewership, and Charlie Kirk’s legacy continues.
Kimmel’s short-lived suspension ended on Tuesday as ABC reinstated his show and he returned to the air. Kimmel was suspended for misleading comments on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, claiming that the conservative activist&#8217;s killer belonged to the &#8220;MAGA gang.&#8221; On his return, he played the martyr.
Kimmel: “The president of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs. Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can&#8217;t take a joke. … We have to speak out against this. He&#8217;s not stopping, and it&#8217;s not just comedy. He&#8217;s gunning for our journalists.”
Step back: While his suspension was lifted by Disney, Kimmel didn’t have the reach he usually has. Some broadcast groups that own ABC affiliates refused to air “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/nexstar-to-preempt-abcs-jimmy-kimmel-live-despite-disney-ending-suspension">Nexstar</a>, which owns 32 ABC affiliates, said it stands by Disney’s original reasons for suspending the host and it will maintain that position until “all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue.”
Sinclair Broadcast Group, which operates <a href="https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2025/09/23/these-abc-stations-in-pennsylvania-wont-air-jimmy-kimmel-tonight-sinclair-stations-in-pa-kimmel-time/86306589007/#:~:text=Where%20does%20Sinclair%20own%20ABC,and%20Exchange%20Commission%20in%20August.">40</a> ABC affiliates, isn’t airing Kimmel, either. The broadcaster said earlier this week that it is in “discussions with ABC” as it evaluates the show’s “potential return.”
For Charlie: Meanwhile, Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour” continues with volunteers from conservative media and the political world filling in to headline events.
Erika – Kirk’s widow, who’s now been elected Turning Point USA’s new CEO – vowed just days after her husband was fatally shot that his legacy would live on, this tour would continue, and that Turning Point is <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/erika-kirk-breaks-silence-after-husband-charlies-assassination-address-turning-point-usa-headquarters">adding</a> “even more tours in the years to come.” The tour has been rebranded in Kirk’s memory and is now called: “This Is the Turning Point Tour.”
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MRN 9.24.25 Thumbnail V2

Morning Brief: Trump Torches UN Elites, Google Admits Censorship & Kimmel Plays The Victim

First Amendment

Morning Wire

Russia

Turning Point USA

Ukraine

United Nations

Late night host Jimmy Kimmel made his return to television Tuesday night after almost one week of suspension.
He started out his monologue by thanking the audience and other late night hosts and fans for reaching out during his suspension.
Kimmel also addressed the comments that got him suspended in the first place &#8212; though notably, he never actually apologized.
“It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” Kimmel said as he started becoming visibly emotional. “I don’t think there’s anything funny about it … nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for what was the actions … of an obviously deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make. But I understand that to some that felt either ill timed or unclear or maybe both, and to those who think I did point a finger, I get why you’re upset.”
“I don’t think the murderer who shot Charlie Kirk represents anyone. I think this was a sick person who believed violence was a solution,” he added.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-true-bunch-of-losers-trump-rips-into-abc-for-ending-jimmy-kimmel-suspension">&#8216;A True Bunch Of Losers&#8217;: Trump Rips Into ABC For Ending Jimmy Kimmel Suspension</a>
Kimmel went on a rant about free speech, said it was “un-American” to take certain shows off the air, then equated his show being removed with Stephen Colbert’s “The Tonight Show” getting canceled, despite indications that the two situations were totally different.
The late night host went hard after President Trump, accusing him of not being able to “take a joke” and saying he wanted most late night shows to get canceled. Meanwhile, he played a clip of Trump saying he believed Kimmel had “no talent” as a way to prove that the president was trying to control free speech.
Later in the monologue, Kimmel also mentioned Kirk’s widow, Erika, forgiving her husband’s assassin during the memorial service over the weekend. Kimmel got emotional again when discussing her speech, calling her act of forgiveness “a selfless act of grace.” 
“That is an example we should follow,” Kimmel said.
The entertainment industry was in an uproar after Kimmel’s show was taken off the air last week over statements he made about the man who assassinated Charlie Kirk.
Even though “Jimmy Kimmel Live” came back Tuesday night, it was limited in distribution and still preempted in certain markets.
That’s because major media players Sinclair and Nexstar both announced they still would not be airing new episodes of Kimmel’s show. The two broadcast companies own or control nearly 80 ABC affiliates between them.
While Nexstar called Kimmel’s comments about Kirk’s alleged killer “ill-timed and insensitive,” Disney backtracked on their original stance after enduring days of extreme backlash from fans and celebrities.
&#8220;We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday,&#8221; Disney said earlier this week.
Kimmel was taken off the air due to comments he made about the accused assassin of Kirk.
“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,” Kimmel said at the time.
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JIMMY KIMMEL

Jimmy Kimmel Returns, Addresses Charlie Kirk Comments In Teary Non-Apology

Broadcasting

Nexstar Media Group confirmed on Tuesday that it will not air “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on its ABC affiliates despite the show’s suspension being lifted.
The entertainment industry has been in an uproar since Kimmel’s show was taken off the air last week over statements he made about the man who assassinated Charlie Kirk. Now the show is coming back, but it won’t air on ABC affiliates owned by Nexstar. 
This announcement comes just one day after Sinclair Broadcast Group, another major ABC station owner, took the same stance.
“We made a decision last week to preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ following what ABC referred to as Mr. Kimmel’s ‘ill-timed and insensitive’ comments at a critical time in our national discourse,” Nexstar said in a statement, per <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/09/23/media/nexstar-refuses-to-air-jimmy-kimmels-return-to-abc-over-charlie-kirk-controversy/">The New York Post</a>. 
“We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve.”
Network contracts with TV station groups typically include a “right to reject” clause, granting local affiliates the authority to preempt programs that they deem harmful to public interest or their audiences. But this clause is rarely used, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/business/media/jimmy-kimmel-nexstar-sinclair-boycott.html">reported</a>.
Kimmel was taken off the air following backlash to comments he made about the accused assassin of Kirk. 
“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,” Kimmel said at the time.
Shortly after his comments went viral, both Nexstar and Sinclair announced plans to preempt the late-night show. The two broadcast companies own or control nearly 80 ABC affiliates between them.
Last Wednesday, FCC chair Brendan Carr criticized Kimmel’s comments, leading many to speculate that Kimmel’s show was pulled due to government pressure.
Multiple petitions and protests were ongoing. Kimmel made no public statements, but was reportedly seen visiting his attorney, according to multiple reports.

Jimmy Kimmel Live

Another Broadcasting Company Refuses To Air Kimmel’s Show

Sinclair Broadcasting Group doubled down on Monday, saying that despite an agreement reached earlier in the day by ABC and late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel, their ABC affiliates would not air &#8220;Jimmy Kimmel Live&#8221; when it returns to ABC on Tuesday.
Sinclair owns nearly 40 ABC affiliates across the country — including one in the nation&#8217;s capital — and while those affiliates will preempt Kimmel&#8217;s show for the time being, the broadcasting group released a statement indicating that a deal could be reached in the future.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return. <a href="https://t.co/beGC6VID2x">pic.twitter.com/beGC6VID2x</a>
— Sinclair, Inc. (@WeAreSinclair) <a href="https://twitter.com/WeAreSinclair/status/1970266039532306593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return,&#8221; the statement read.
Sinclair&#8217;s statement came just hours after ABC parent-company Disney announced that Kimmel&#8217;s show would <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/disney-caves-will-let-jimmy-kimmel-return-to-air-on-tuesday">return on Tuesday</a> after several days off the air.
&#8220;Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday,&#8221; a spokesperson for Disney <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/disney-announces-jimmy-kimmel-live-returning-tuesday-after-suspension">told</a> Fox News Digital.
Kimmel landed in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmels-late-night-show-indefinitely-after-charlie-kirk-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">timeout</a> several days earlier after backlash over comments he made about the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
&#8220;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,” <a href="https://x.com/newsbusters/status/1967982924986487284" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Kimmel at the time.
Shortly after his comments went viral, both Nexstar and Sinclair announced plans to preempt the comedian&#8217;s show. The two broadcast companies own or control nearly 80 ABC affiliates between them.

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Sinclair Broadcast Group Doubles Down, Still Refuses To Air ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’

Sinclair Broadcast Group Doubles Down, Still Refuses To Air 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'

“Jimmy Kimmel Live” will return to the air on Tuesday after being suspended last week, Disney announced on Monday.
&#8220;Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday,&#8221; a Disney spokesperson <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/disney-announces-jimmy-kimmel-live-returning-tuesday-after-suspension">told</a> Fox News Digital in a statement.
Kimmel’s suspension caused a complete uproar in the Hollywood community and across social media as critics accused the network of “censorship” and squashing free speech.
The comments from Kimmel that prompted the suspension included the host falsely claiming that Kirk’s assassin was a MAGA supporter. Investigators say that Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old man arrested for Kirk’s killing, was deeply steeped in leftist ideology and disliked the conservative commentator for his beliefs.
“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,” Kimmel said during his show last week.
The late-night host’s suspension came amid pressure from broadcast companies that own ABC affiliates, including Nexstar and Sinclair, who pulled the show from their stations.
Last Wednesday, FCC chair Brendan Carr criticized Kimmel’s comments, leading many to assume that Kimmel’s show was pulled due to government pressure.
Multiple petitions and protests were ongoing. Kimmel made no public statements, but was seen visiting his attorney, per multiple reports. Other late night hosts came out with full fury in support of their colleague, with Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher, and others saying the suspension was wrong.
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner also came out publicly against the suspension.
Meanwhile, many people observed that Kimmel’s ratings have been less than stellar for a while, leading them to speculate that the suspension was about more than a single issue.

Disney Caves, Will Let Jimmy Kimmel Return To Air On Tuesday

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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attempted to run defense for embattled late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel, but newly vindicated meme-maker Douglass Mackey got the last laugh.
Clinton took to X to voice her opinion, claiming that she would never attempt to silence a comedian who said something she didn’t like or found to be “offensive.” She also linked to a longer conversation she’d had on the topic with Columbia University Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo for The New Yorker.
“Jimmy Kimmel and other late-night comedians have certainly said things about me that I found offensive, even outrageous,” Clinton said. “It never crossed my mind to call up the networks and say, ‘Hey, get rid of this guy.’ Because that’s not how America works.”
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Jimmy Kimmel and other late-night comedians have certainly said things about me that I found offensive, even outrageous.
It never crossed my mind to call up the networks and say, &#8220;Hey, get rid of this guy.&#8221; Because that&#8217;s not how America works.
More in my conversation…
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) <a href="https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/1969790254115922137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
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But Mackey, who ultimately served time in prison for a 2016 meme — encouraging people to “Avoid the Line. Vote from Home,” and “Text ‘Hillary’ to 59925” — pushed back on the twice-failed presidential candidate.
“Madame Secretary: It crossed your mind to call up Sen. Klobuchar, the FBI and the DOJ and have me arrested for a humorous meme about your campaign,” Mackey posted in response to Clinton. “You then celebrated my unlawful and wrongful conviction, which was later overturned by a federal appeals court. Sit down.”
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Madame Secretary:
It crossed your mind to call up Sen. Klobuchar, the FBI and the DOJ and have me arrested for a humorous meme about your campaign.
You then celebrated my unlawful and wrongful conviction, which was later overturned by a federal appeals court.
Sit down. <a href="https://t.co/KtVM7Dp2hV">https://t.co/KtVM7Dp2hV</a>
— Douglass Mackey (@DougMackeyCase) <a href="https://twitter.com/DougMackeyCase/status/1969882718369694183?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Mackey was not the only one to push back on Clinton’s claim, though. When one person asked @Grok to weigh in on whether or not Clinton had ever attempted to “get rid of” certain types of speech, even the X AI bot had something to say.
“Yes, Hillary Clinton has called for US government action on misinformation. For instance, in 2024 she suggested civil or criminal charges for Americans spreading propaganda (MSNBC interview). In 2021, she urged governments to ‘rein in’ social media disinformation (Chatham House talk). In 2016, she said fake news must be addressed quickly by leaders (Capitol Hill speech). Sources: Yahoo, Newsweek, NPR,” the response read.
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Yes, Hillary Clinton has called for US government action on misinformation. For instance, in 2024 she suggested civil or criminal charges for Americans spreading propaganda (MSNBC interview). In 2021, she urged governments to &#8220;rein in&#8221; social media disinformation (Chatham House…
— Grok (@grok) <a href="https://twitter.com/grok/status/1970195858525425857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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A number of others also pointed out that Clinton, despite her declared interest in free speech, had turned off the replies to her post.

Former Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton’s Portrait Unveiled At The State Department

Conservative Influencer Targeted By Biden Admin Blasts Hillary Clinton After She Defends Kimmel

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Howard Stern announced on his radio show Monday that he canceled his Disney Plus subscription as a form of protest against Jimmy Kimmel being suspended.
“I’m trying to say with the pocketbook that I do not support what they’re doing with Jimmy,” the shock jock told his audience. “I can no longer keep my mouth shut … I feel obligated to say something, because s***’s getting outta control,” Stern said at another point.
“I just know, when the government begins to interfere, when the government says, ‘I’m not pleased with you, so we’re going to orchestrate a way to silence you,’ it’s the wrong direction for our country,” Stern added. “And I should know. I’ve been involved in something like this,” he said, referencing multiple fines from the FCC his show has received over the years for indecent content.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live” was suspended last week after comments the host made about Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel falsely claimed that Kirk’s assassin was a MAGA supporter.
“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,” Kimmel said during his show.
The late-night host’s suspension came amid pressure from broadcast companies that own ABC affiliates, including Nexstar and Sinclair, who pulled the show from their stations.
While most of Hollywood is crying about censorship, there’s an alternate explanation being given for Kimmel’s show getting pulled, which has to do with low ratings. 
“If Howard is sad about Kimmel’s absence on air, he should talk to ABC who made the decision to pull down his unfunny and unpopular show,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement to <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/09/22/media/howard-stern-blasts-abc-suspension-of-jimmy-kimmel-cancels-disney/">the New York Post</a>.
“This has nothing to do with free speech; low-ratings loser Kimmel is free to make whatever bad jokes he wants, but a private company is under no obligation to lose money producing unpopular shows,” she added. “Kimmel’s ratings have declined over 63 percent since his show moved to its current time slot and he has lost over 43 percent of his audience since President Trump returned to office.”

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Howard Stern Says He Canceled His Disney Plus Account Over Jimmy Kimmel Suspension

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