Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show was abruptly pulled from the air Wednesday after the US government threatened to revoke broadcasting licenses over the host’s remarks on the killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
The move by ABC, which airs one of America’s most-watched late-night programs, drew immediate criticism from free speech advocates, who called it government censorship. President Donald Trump however, applauded the network’s decision, calling it “great news for America” on his Truth Social platform. Trump also suggested that other late-night hosts, including Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, should be removed from the air.
In Hollywood, audience members were turned away before Wednesday’s taping. Tommy Williams, a Florida longshoreman, told AFP that the cancellation felt “un-American,” comparing it to state-controlled media in Russia, North Korea, and China.
The controversy follows last week’s fatal shooting of Kirk on a Utah university campus. On Monday, Kimmel addressed the incident in his monologue, criticising political figures for attempting to politicise the tragedy and mocking Trump’s response.
ABC affiliates threatened
Hours later, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr publicly threatened ABC affiliates with potential license revocations if they continued to air Kimmel’s show. Nexstar, a major ABC affiliate owner involved in a multi-billion-dollar merger requiring FCC approval, responded by pulling the program. ABC, owned by Disney, subsequently removed the show nationwide. Kimmel had no immediate comment.
Democrats condemned the actions as politically motivated censorship. Senator Ben Ray Lujan and California Governor Gavin Newsom argued that the combined pressure from Trump and the FCC represented a coordinated attempt to silence dissenting media voices, raising broader concerns about freedom of expression in the United States.
The incident adds to growing tension between political authorities and late-night comedy, highlighting the fraught intersection of entertainment, politics, and regulatory power.
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