Jimmy Kimmel show tonight won't be aired on Sinclair, Nexstar after Charlie Kirk controversy? Know latest developments

Jimmy Kimmel is set to return to late-night television Tuesday after a nearly weeklong suspension that triggered a national discussion about freedom of speech and President Donald Trump's ability to police the words of journalists, commentators and even comics. ABC, which suspended Kimmel's show last Wednesday following criticism of his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, announced Monday that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would return after the network had “thoughtful conversations” with the host.

It was still unclear how many ABC affiliates would carry him. Nexstar and Sinclair, two corporations that collectively control about one-quarter of ABC affiliates, denounced Kimmel last week. Sinclair said its stations would not show the reinstated Kimmel on Tuesday, while Nexstar has not said yet.

"Our long national late nightmare is over," Stephen Colbert joked on his CBS show in response to Kimmel's reinstatement.


ABC had suspended Kimmel indefinitely after comments he made in a monologue last week. Kimmel suggested that many Trump supporters were trying to capitalize on Kirk’s death and were "desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”

Trump-appointed Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr last week said it appeared that Kimmel was trying to “directly mislead the American public” with his remarks about Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old Utah man charged with Kirk's killing, and his motives. Those motives remain unclear. Authorities say Robinson grew up in a conservative family, but his mother told investigators his son had turned left politically in the last year.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said before ABC announced the suspension. “These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”

Those remarks set a backlash in motion, with Republican Sen. Ted Cruz saying that Carr acted like “a mafioso.” Hundreds of entertainment luminaries, including Tom Hanks, Barbra Streisand and Jennifer Aniston, signed a letter circulated by the American Civil Liberties Union that called ABC's move “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”

Some consumers punished ABC parent Disney by canceling subscriptions to its streaming services. Disney and ABC executives reportedly negotiated the return for several days before announcing the resolution. The ABC statement said the suspension happened because some of Kimmel's comments were “ill-timed and thus insensitive,” but it did not call them misleading.

Trump had hailed Kimmel's suspension, even inaccurately saying the show had been canceled. Kimmel has been a relentless Trump critic in his comedy.

FAQs

Q1. Where will Jimmy Kimmel show air?
A1. Jimmy Kimmel show can be watched on ABC, Hulu.

Q2. Will Sinclair air Jimmy Kimmel show?
A2. It was still unclear how many ABC affiliates would carry Jimmy Kimmel show. Nexstar and Sinclair, two corporations that collectively control about one-quarter of ABC affiliates, denounced Kimmel last week. Sinclair said its stations would not show the reinstated Jimmy Kimmel show on Tuesday, while Nexstar has not said yet.