ABC Stations To Fill Jimmy Kimmel’s Former Time Slot With Special Charlie Kirk Tribute
on Sep 18, 2025
Controversy Sparks Following Charlie Kirk Shooting
On September 10th, conservative activist and entrepreneur Charlie Kirk was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University as a part of his American Comeback Tour. The 31-year-old CEO of Turning Point USA was known for his pursuit of constructive discourse by encouraging those with opposing viewpoints to step up to the mic for a respectful debate.
As news of the attack sent shockwaves through the nation, President Trump was the first to officially confirm that Kirk had died as a result of the gunshot wound. He shared on Truth Social:
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.”
In the week that has passed since Kirk’s death, discussion around the political, social, and religious issues that he stood for has reached an all-time high. Many, including country artists, have used their platform to speak out against the violence and division in our country.
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Jimmy Kimmel Removed From Air Following Problematic Remarks
Major television personality Jimmy Kimmel made comments on his September 15th episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which landed him in hot water. The 57-year-old addressed the shooting and quickly accused the right-wing or “MAGA gang” of trying to secure political points in the aftermath.
See Jimmy Kimmel’s full comments and their context in the video below:
On Wednesday, Nexstar Media Group, which owns America’s largest television broadcasting group, announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be removed from the air “for the foreseeable future.” As a result, ABC has suspended production of the show.
Nexstar’s broadcasting chief, Andrew Alford, said in a press release:
“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.”
A source close to Kimmel reported to CNBC that he is not fired and that ABC’s parent company, Disney, will meet with him to discuss how she should approach the topic when he returns to the air.
Charlie Kirk Tribute To Air In Place Of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Shortly after news of the suspension, Sinclair Broadcast Group, which operates 30 ABC affiliates, announced that it would air a special “in remembrance of Charlie Kirk” during the late-night show’s former time slot on Friday, September 19th.
A representative of the company said in a press release:
“Regardless of ABC’s plans for the future of the program, Sinclair intends not to return ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ to our air until we are confident that appropriate steps have been taken to uphold the standards expected of a national broadcast platform.”
In addition, they demanded that Kimmel take action to make amends.
“Sinclair also calls upon Mr. Kimmel to issue a direct apology to the Kirk family. Furthermore, we ask Mr. Kimmel to make a meaningful personal donation to the Kirk family and Turning Point USA.”
The special tribute to Charlie Kirk is set to air on ABC affiliate stations at 11:35 pm Eastern on September 19th. A list of stations can be found here.
