ABC has pulled late-night host Jimmy Kimmel off air indefinitely over comments he made about the shooting of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.
Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely, a spokesperson for the Disney-owned network said in a statement. Kimmel did not comment to the BBC as he emerged shortly afterwards from the television studio in Los Angeles.
Earlier this week, Kimmel criticized the Maga gang for allegedly trying to score political points off Kirk's death, inciting both support and backlash.
A 22-year-old suspect appeared in court, charged with aggravated murder following the 31-year-old conservative activist's fatal shooting.
In response to the claims, Kimmel mentioned that the flags at half-mast for Kirk were inappropriate and mocked Trump’s reaction, leading to further division and discussions about censorship in media.
Resistance to Kimmel's remarks was noted from figures like FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, prompting fans and organizations like the Writers Guild of America to criticize the move against Kimmel.
This incident continues a conversation around the overlap of humor, politics, and free speech, as Kimmel's return to the screen remains uncertain amidst ongoing public discourse.