Walt Disney-owned ABC on Wednesday pulled the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ show off the air after the television host’s controversial remarks on the killing of right-wing activist and Trump's ally Charlie Kirk triggered a massive uproar.
The decision came after Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr urged local broadcasters to stop airing the show on ABC and was announced by US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account.
Trump, who has been critical of the content of the popular show, hailed the decision. "Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC," Trump wrote.
What did Jimmy Kimmel say?
During his monologue on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', he criticised Republicans who allegedly sought to politicise Charlie Kirk's shooting.
"We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it," he said.
Pointing to a video of Trump’s mourning of Kirk, Jimmy said, “This is how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish”.
Jimmy, a veteran late-night comic, made the contentious remarks on his Monday night show.
ABC has been airing Jimmy’s late-night show since 2003. The broadcaster’s decision came shortly after Nexstar Communications Group said it would pull the show starting Wednesday.
Charlie Kirk, a close ally of Trump, was fatally shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University last week. Police have arrested a 22-year-old man, Tyler Robinson, who allegedly fired a rifle from a rooftop, hitting Kirk in the neck.
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