The choice to pull Kimmel also follows Nexstar Media, which owns a large number of TV stations across the country, saying Wednesday that it would pre-empt Kimmel’s program due to a comment Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk on Monday’s show.
“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,” said Andrew Alford, President of Nexstar’s broadcasting division. “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.”
Nextar is currently seeking FCC approval for a merger with the broadcast, digital media, and marketing company Tegna, writes CNBC.
In the past, Kimmel has not been shy about his antipathy for conservatives, particularly members of Trump’s administration and the president himself. He has attacked Trump as a “fragile snowflake” and “the dumbest criminal in the world,” among other epithets. Trump, in turn, has attacked Kimmel; most recently, he ripped into Kimmel’s performance as host at the 2024 Oscars. Onstage at the Dolby Theatre, Kimmel gleefully read a Truth Social post Trump published during the ceremony: “Has there ever been a worse host than Jimmy Kimmel at the Oscars?” said Kimmel, quoting the president. “His opening was that of a less-than-average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be.”
Kimmel has hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live!—the first and as of now only late night series on ABC—since 2003. The network’s abrupt decision to yank him off the air comes exactly two months after CBS announced that it will cancel The Late Show—hosted by frequent Trump critic Stephen Colbert—after the 2025-2026 TV season.
Trump responded ecstatically to the news about Kimmel on Truth Social Wednesday night, writing, incorrectly, “The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.” (A source told CNBC that Kimmel has not been fired, and that “Disney plans to speak with him about what the comedian should say when he goes back on the air.”)
“That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC,” Trump continued—referring to Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers.
This story has been updated.
