Jimmy Kimmel Live! was suspended for six days in September 2025 after host Jimmy Kimmel delivered a monologue criticising Donald Trump and his supporters’ response to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
ABC and its parent company, The Walt Disney Company, halted production from 17 to 22 September following the broadcast, amid escalating political pressure and public backlash. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr publicly condemned the segment and raised the prospect of regulatory scrutiny over ABC’s broadcast licences.
The disruption extended beyond the network. Major affiliate groups, including Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, initially refused to carry the show even after it resumed, before reversing their stance by 26 September.
The decision drew sharp criticism across the entertainment industry, with organisations such as SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America characterising the suspension as a threat to free expression.
What triggered the backlash
The controversy centred on Kimmel’s remarks about reactions from Trump-aligned figures following Kirk’s death. During the monologue, he accused the “MAGA gang” of attempting to politicise the incident and mischaracterise the attacker, comments that critics — including Carr — argued implied the suspect was a Trump supporter.
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.
Jimmy Kimmel on his show
Kimmel also mocked a clip of Trump discussing plans for a White House ballroom when asked about the killing, and criticised figures such as JD Vance and Eric Trump for what he described as partisan messaging in the aftermath.
Fallout and corporate response
The suspension quickly escalated into a broader flashpoint involving media, politics, and corporate governance. Hundreds of public figures, including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Aniston, and Robert De Niro, signed an open letter describing the move as a “dark moment for freedom of speech.”
Industry bodies, including SAG-AFTRA and the WGA, condemned the decision as “corporate cowardice,” while consumer backlash translated into a surge in cancellations across Disney+ and Hulu. Reports indicated Disney’s market capitalisation fell by approximately $1.4billion in the immediate aftermath.
Behind the scenes, Disney CEO Bob Iger and Co-Chair Dana Walden engaged Kimmel in discussions aimed at defusing tensions and facilitating his return.
Return to air
Kimmel returned on 23 September to an audience of 6.26 million viewers, roughly triple his typical ratings, as attention focused on how he would address the controversy.
In his opening monologue, he said it was “never my intention to make light of the murder” and stressed that there was “nothing funny about it.” He also clarified that he did not intend to blame any political group, describing the attacker as a “deeply disturbed individual,” and acknowledged his earlier remarks may have been “ill-timed or unclear.” He additionally praised Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, for what he described as a “selfless act of grace.”
It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. There is nothing funny about it. I posted a message on Instagram on the day he was killed, expressing love to his family and asking for compassion, which I meant and still mean.
Jimmy Kimmel said in his opening monologue post-suspension.
It was also not my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual; in fact, this was the opposite of my point. I understand that some people felt my message was ill-timed or unclear, or both. For those who think I pointed a finger, I get why you’re upset. If the situation were reversed, there is a good chance I would have felt the same way.
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The Assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk
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