ABC Pulls Jimmy Kimmel Live After Comments On Charlie Kirk Assassination

ABC has pulled late-night host Jimmy Kimmel off the air after widespread backlash over his mocking remarks about the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

“Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely,” an ABC spokesperson confirmed to CNN.

The decision came after Nexstar Media Group, which operates dozens of ABC affiliates nationwide, announced it would no longer carry the program. In a statement, Nexstar said it “strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets.”

During his Monday night monologue, Kimmel attempted to smear conservatives, suggesting without evidence that accused killer Tyler Robinson was a Trump supporter.

“The MAGA Gang (is) 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. “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.”

The comments sparked outrage, particularly after Utah authorities confirmed Robinson’s “leftist ideology” days before the broadcast.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr also condemned Kimmel’s rhetoric in an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said. “These companies can find ways to change conduct and take actions on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”

Meanwhile, Sinclair Broadcasting announced it would air a nationwide tribute to Charlie Kirk this Friday in the “Jimmy Kimmel Live” slot on its ABC stations. The special will also run on all Sinclair outlets over the weekend and has been offered to every ABC affiliate across the country.

Secret Service Agent Under Fire After Celebrating Kirk’s Death

The fallout has extended beyond Hollywood. A Secret Service agent, Anthony Pough, is expected to be fired after publicly celebrating Kirk’s assassination.

In a since-deleted social media post, Pough wrote: “If you are Mourning this guy… delete me. He spewed hate and racism on his show. You can’t circumvent karma, she doesnt [sic] leave.”

The shocking remarks spread quickly among agents and the broader protective detail community. “If that’s all it takes to set you off, that’s dangerous to have around,” one veteran agent told RealClearPolitics reporter Susan Crabtree, who first broke the story.

The Secret Service confirmed Pough has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation, though officials declined to comment on whether he is receiving pay or has lost clearance. Sources told Crabtree that because Pough joined the agency in 2022 and remains in his probationary period, dismissal is highly likely.

The agency maintains strict rules against partisan or inflammatory behavior, warning that even the perception of political bias undermines its mission to protect American leaders of all political affiliations.

A Nation in Mourning

Charlie Kirk, 31, was assassinated last Wednesday at Utah Valley University in Orem. Prosecutors allege Tyler Robinson, 26, carried out the attack with a bolt-action rifle from a rooftop overlooking the crowd. Kirk was rushed from the scene by security but later succumbed to his injuries.

The brutal murder of one of America’s most prominent young conservative leaders has shaken the nation and ignited debates about rising hostility toward conservatives.