# ABC pulls Jimmy Kimmel show indefinitely because of comments about GOP response to Charlie Kirk death. (Kimmel will be back on air Tuesday 2025-09-23) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 17, 2025, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138 "2025-09-17T23:27:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/181 "2025-09-20T00:45:17Z")
Kimmel is not yet out the door and appears to be [lawyering up against the network](https://www.tmz.com/2025/09/19/jimmy-kimmel-arrives-lawyers-office-security-abc-suspension/). What may come into play is the 43% loss of viewership since the beginning of the year. The network may have wanted a reason to replace him. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/182 "2025-09-20T00:49:19Z")
It doesn’t sound anywhere near that simple: > **[Did Jimmy Kimmel have bad ratings? It's more complicated than Trump suggests](https://lastnighton.com/did-jimmy-kimmel-have-bad-ratings-complicated)** > > On Sept. 17, ABC shocked the world when it announced its decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live from its lineup indefinitely. The move was made by Disney heads to “ ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/183 "2025-09-20T00:58:08Z")
This is brutal. > ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/184 "2025-09-20T01:02:29Z")
What happened to the Disney that stood up to Desantis? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/185 "2025-09-20T01:16:06Z")
Trump got back into the White House, is what happened. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/186 "2025-09-20T01:21:50Z")
Nobody is buying the “He got canceled over the course of one night without any word whatsoever and without a show to take his place, after they had already flown his guests in, and it had nothing to do at all with pressure from Trump and his Trumpettes” line. There is far too much evidence to the contrary for anyone with an I.Q. over 75 to fall for this silly scenario. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/187 "2025-09-20T01:23:34Z")
That is really very unfair of you. Most under 75 IQ. understand that too. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/188 "2025-09-20T02:20:31Z")
I love the idea that they were looking for an excuse to can him for poor ratings so they went with “we are massive cowards who will turn on our own people if you threaten us.” ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/189 "2025-09-20T04:36:40Z")
It was a pretty coordinated widespread news release of his dumb podcast. I figured somehow Disney engineered it to give lessers known R’s and the like a fig leaf to stand with to be with pro 1st Amendment folk. It’s certainly a crack in the facade to get Kimmel back on. Whether it’s big enough or will hold, time will tell. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/190 "2025-09-20T04:42:12Z")
We have already blocked our local Sinclair-owned ABC station, and today we dropped the Disney+ package on our cable system. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/191 "2025-09-20T09:55:17Z")
Yes. My family is dropping Disney+. Alas, there were things I still wanted to watch, but… My local ABC station is not owned by Sinclair but it is still ultimately owned by Disney. Gah! Corporations are like a cockroache infestation - largely unseen but everywhere, you can’t get away from them, and they’re watching you from the cracks. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/192 "2025-09-20T10:41:34Z")
We also cancelled Disney+ today. Our “reason for cancellation” was a blunt statement about their craven cowardice. I’m also going to write a physical letter. Nobody does that any more, so I assume it will be marginally more meaningful than an angry paragraph in a web form that nobody will ever see. Our kids were disappointed, but only symbolically, really. We explained the situation, and they accepted it. There are many other entertainment options available. Star Wars and Marvel suck now anyway. Good riddance. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/193 "2025-09-20T14:05:01Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > I’m also going to write a physical letter. Nobody does that any more, so I assume it will be marginally more meaningful than an angry paragraph in a web form that nobody will ever see. I am one of the few remaining letter writers. It’s a lost art. I have one or two remaining acquaintances who still send written letters on occasion but most have passed on. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/194 "2025-09-20T15:48:52Z")
WGN-TV is owned by Nexstar. I’m not clear on how many cable channels still carry it but advertisers might be appropriate targets for those who are interested. Also, they are affiliated with the CW network as well so that might be a group to contact. Not ABC but Nexstar is a big part of the problem. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/195 "2025-09-20T16:06:05Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > WGN-TV is owned by Nexstar. I’m not clear on how many cable channels still carry it but advertisers might be appropriate targets for those who are interested. None, as I understand it. For decades, WGN was a “superstation” (as was WTBS and WOR), and cable systems across the U.S. offered what was effectively a simulcast of WGN’s Chicago signal, which was also broadcast via satellite. (FWIW, that was also how the Chicago Cubs generated a national fan base in the 1980s, as their games were all carried on WGN.) Over time, WGN’s ownership teased apart the Chicago version of the station from the satellite version, in part because WGN became a network affiliate of the WB, then the CW (and wasn’t allowed to broadcast WB/CW network programming over satellite); they rebranded the WGN satellite/cable offering as “Superstation WGN,” then “WGN America,” and the cable version’s programming primarily became syndicated reruns; eventually, there was effectively no shared broadcast/programming between WGN’s Chicago channel and WGN America. WGN-TV still exists here in Chicago, but WGN America no longer exists; in 2020, it was rebranded as NewsNation, and became an all-news basic cable channel. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/196 "2025-09-20T16:51:31Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Nobody is buying the “He got canceled over the course of one night without any word whatsoever and without a show to take his place, after they had already flown his guests in, and it had nothing to do at all with pressure from Trump and his Trumpettes” line. To start with he hasn’t been canceled. He’s been pulled off the the air. The difference is that he may still be able to smooth it over. That’s on him. I’m not sure what you mean by “without any word”. It was because of something he said that triggered over 60 stations to pull his show. It wasn’t just one affiliate group it was 2 of them. Nexstar Media Group and and Sinclair Broadcast Group. Nexstar is currently trying to get the FCC to increase the number of stations that a single group can own. I also don’t know what your reference to guests being flown in has to do with Kimmel’s comments and the fallout that resulted. All ABC can do at that point is suspend him until it can be sorted out financially. Kimmel has to fix this so that it’s a profitable venture and I haven’t seen any attempt on his part. His massive decline in viewership isn’t helping his cause. IF, and I say IF he’s already costing ABC money then I don’t see any way to fix it. I understand why kimmel’s supporters would cancel Disney but it’s playing in to Trump’s dislike of the company. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/197 "2025-09-20T16:54:01Z")
He can still smooth what over? What transgression, specifically? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/198 "2025-09-20T16:55:52Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > It was because of something he said that triggered over 60 stations to pull his show. Correction: Trump allies are _pretending_ Kimmel said something so they can manufacture outrage and silence a critic. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/199 "2025-09-20T16:58:31Z")
He can smooth over what he said that caused stations to drop his show. You can disagree with whether or not you feel it was a transgression but you can’t disagree with how other people feel. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138/200 "2025-09-20T17:00:23Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Correction: Trump allies are _pretending_ Kimmel said something so they can manufacture outrage and silence a critic. You can’t speak for other people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abc-pulls-jimmy-kimmel-show-indefinitely-because-of-comments-about-gop-response-to-charlie-kirk-death-kimmel-will-be-back-on-air-tuesday-2025-09-23/1023138.md?page=11)