'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' Suspended After Charlie Kirk Remarks

Many are now wondering if "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will ever return after ABC abruptly suspended the late-night program this week due to the host's monologue on Charlie Kirk.

Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show has been taken off the air indefinitely, according to a statement released on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

A representative for Disney-owned ABC confirmed the move to PEOPLE, noting that "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will no longer appear in its usual timeslot for the foreseeable future.

The decision comes in the wake of a major programming shift by Nexstar Media Group, the largest owner of local broadcast stations in the U.S. With more than 200 affiliates in 116 markets, Nexstar announced that its ABC partners will not be airing Kimmel's program "for the foreseeable future, beginning with tonight's show."

In its statement, Nexstar explained that 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."

Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar's broadcasting division, expanded on the reasoning in remarks to PEOPLE. "Mr. Kimmel's comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located," Alford said.

He added, "Continuing to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve is simply not in the public interest at the current time, and we have made the difficult decision to preempt his show in an effort to let cooler heads prevail as we move toward the resumption of respectful, constructive dialogue."

The controversy stems from remarks Kimmel made during his September 15, 2025 monologue, just days after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University on September 10 at the age of 31.

Addressing supporters of former President Donald Trump, Kimmel said, "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."

The fallout appeared to catch Kimmel's team off guard. As news of the suspension was breaking, guests scheduled for that Wednesday's taping were already headed to the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, where the show films, according to CNN.

Staff had reportedly been working on upcoming episodes as normal, holding calls with talent representatives only hours before the announcement was made public.

Industry insiders were stunned by the move. Several Hollywood publicists, producers, and media executives told CNN they were taken aback by the abrupt suspension of one of late-night television's longest-running programs.