Celebrities & Politicians React To Jimmy Kimmel's Show Being Pulled Off Air
By Jovonne Ledet
September 18, 2025
Celebrities and politicians are speaking out against Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show being pulled off the air indefinitely over the host's recent comments about conservative figure Charlie Kirk and pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
On Wednesday (September 17), ABC announced that it was pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its schedule after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened federal action against affiliates airing the show, per NPR.
"Jimmy Kimmel Live will be preempted indefinitely," an ABC spokesperson said in a statement.
Carr made the threat during an interview with podcaster Benny Johnson following Kimmel's comments about Kirk's killing.
“Look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action on Kimmel or, you know, there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead," Carr said.
Kimmel made the controversial comments during Monday’s (September 15) monologue, during which he joked about President Donald Trump’s response to Kirk’s shooting and criticized right-wing attempts to politicize the event.
“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.
Though Kimmel had previously called Kirk’s killing “senseless” and sent condolences to his family on Instagram, the remark sparked outrage among conservatives, including Trump. Nexstar, which owns 32 ABC stations and is awaiting FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger, was the first to suspend Kimmel’s show. Sinclair Broadcast Group also dropped the program and issued a statement demanding that Kimmel apologize to Kirk's family.
“Sinclair calls upon Mr. Kimmel to issue a direct apology to the Kirk family. Furthermore, we ask Mr. Kimmel to make a meaningful personal donation to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA,” the company said.
Trump praised ABC’s move to remove Kimmel's show from its schedule in a post on his Truth Social Platform.
“Congratulations to ABC for its courage. That leaves Jimmy and Seth,” he said, referring to Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon and Late Night host Seth Meyers, urging NBC to cancel their shows next.
On Friday (September 19), Sinclair plans to air a televised tribute to Kirk in place of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Many celebrities and politicians condemned the decision to remove Kimmel's show from the air. See their reactions below.
Kimmel hurts MAGA’S feelings by holding a mirror up & so the first amendment is out the window and his show is pulled… who is going to tell them that, that is the definition of being a snowflake… as well as supporting anti-democratic ideals? (Not patriotic at all)
— Jasmine Crockett (@JasmineForUS) September 17, 2025
Now is…
They’ve Made Jimmy Kimmel Words More Offensive Than The Guy Who Went Around Being Controversial. This Is The Same Thing They Did To Colin Kaepernick. They Made His Protest Be About What They Wanted It To Be About! They’ve Mastered Being The Victim & Villainizing Everyone Else! 🇺🇸
— Plies (@plies) September 18, 2025
Last Wednesday: A Fox News host says homeless people should be executed.
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) September 18, 2025
Monday: Jimmy Kimmel makes a joke.
Guess which one lost their job?
This isn’t right. https://t.co/mVJ8308w1k
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) September 17, 2025
Kimmel.
— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) September 17, 2025
Colbert.
Suits against the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and 60 Minutes.
Extorting settlements from CBS, ABC, and others.
Blocking the AP's access to the White House.
This administration is responsible for the most blatant attacks on the free press in…
After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like. https://t.co/uts7JpJZzN
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 18, 2025
First Colbert, now Kimmel.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) September 18, 2025
Last-minute settlements, secret side deals, multi-billion dollar mergers pending Donald Trump's approval.
Trump silencing free speech stifles our democracy. It sure looks like giant media companies are enabling his authoritarianism.
This is wrong. This is an assault on free speech. This is our government using its power to censor and silence its critics like Jimmy Kimmel.
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) September 18, 2025
Donald Trump continues to undermine our constitution, our freedoms, and our democracy. pic.twitter.com/gA7jZabXfO
America is meant to be a bastion of free speech.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 18, 2025
Everybody across the political spectrum should be speaking out to stop what’s happening to Jimmy Kimmel.
This is about protecting democracy.
This must go to court.
Freedom of speech must be protected — whether it comes from an individual, a politician, or a comedian.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) September 18, 2025
The Trump administration’s effort to silence Jimmy Kimmel is unacceptable.
House Democratic Leadership Statement on the Suspension of Jimmy Kimmel. pic.twitter.com/WOVSC51unG
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) September 18, 2025
The Writers Guild of America has released a statement on ABC’s decision to pull ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’:
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 18, 2025
“As a Guild, we stand united in opposition to anyone who uses their power and influence to silence the voices of writers, or anyone who speaks in dissent.” pic.twitter.com/vcZ9xWO9hy
What’s at stake here is free speech.
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) September 18, 2025
Across the board, we’ve seen the Trump administration use the power of government to go after anybody who’s criticized them — and in this case, Jimmy Kimmel.
We need to all stand up and speak out. pic.twitter.com/zRMBd7K5oh
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.