In the wake of intense backlash over Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks about Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin, Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been yanked off the air indefinitely – and it won’t return unless the late-night host meets three strict demands.
Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show was abruptly pulled off the air indefinitely following a firestorm over remarks he made regarding the shocking and highly publicized death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The suspension, confirmed Sept. 17, by Sinclair Broadcast Group – the largest ABC affiliate network in the U.S. – came as mounting pressure from political groups and public backlash grew impossible to ignore.
Kirk, a high-profile Donald Trump ally and founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, was tragically shot dead on Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. The event, which drew over 3,000 attendees, turned into a national tragedy when a 22-year-old man, Tyler Robinson, shot a single bullet into his neck. Robinson has since been charged with aggravated murder and several related crimes.
‘Fourth stage of grief’
Days after Kirk’s death, Kimmel addressed the incident on his Sept.15 broadcast. Rather than offering condolences, the comedian took direct aim at Trump’s bizarre public reaction to Kirk’s death.
During the segment, Kimmel played a clip of Trump being asked how he was “holding up” following the assassination of his friend. Trump responded awkwardly with, “I think very good,” then abruptly shifted focus – ignoring the gravity of the question – and began discussing new construction at the White House.
“And by the way, right there you see all the trucks. They just started construction of the new ballroom for the White House, which is something they’ve been trying to get for about 150 years. And it’s gonna be a beauty. It’ll be an absolutely magnificent structure,” Trump told the reporter.
Kimmel’s response was biting: “He’s at the fourth stage of grief: construction. This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish, okay?”
