Jimmy Kimmel’s Career in Jeopardy: ABC Insiders Reveal the Real Reason Behind His Suspension
- Jimmy Kimmel’s show was pulled from the air “indefinitely” after he falsely claimed a “MAGA gang” member was responsible for Charlie Kirk’s death.
- Kimmel’s comments were scripted and vetted by writers, but ABC insiders say the network’s standards department should have flagged them.
- The decision to suspend Kimmel was made by Disney CEO Bob Iger and TV boss Dana Walden, with pressure from Nexstar and Sinclair, the two largest owners of ABC affiliate stations.
Jimmy Kimmel’s career is hanging by a thread after his show was pulled from the air “indefinitely” following his comments on Charlie Kirk’s death. The $16-million-a-year late-night host falsely claimed that a “MAGA gang” member was responsible for Kirk’s killing, sparking outrage and prompting ABC to take action.
According to ABC insiders, Kimmel’s comments were scripted and vetted by writers, but the network’s standards department should have flagged them as potentially offensive. “He’s said much worse,” a source said of Kimmel, who has a history of slamming President Trump and his supporters.
In fact, Kimmel’s monologues have been dominated by anti-Trump jokes and rants, with the majority of his recent shows focusing on the President and the Epstein files. “Everyone is afraid they’ll lose their jobs,” a source said, adding that “everyone” was asking questions about the Kimmel situation in Thursday’s editorial meeting.
The decision to suspend Kimmel was made by Disney CEO Bob Iger and TV boss Dana Walden, with pressure from Nexstar and Sinclair, the two largest owners of ABC affiliate stations. The move has left Kimmel “absolutely f–king livid” and “actively looking” to weasel out of his contract and end his relationship with ABC.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has also weighed in on the controversy, saying that Kimmel’s comments “appeared to directly mislead” the public and that there was a “strong case” for the Federal Communications Commission to take action against ABC and its parent company, Disney.
President Trump has revelled in the news of Kimmel’s suspension, calling it “great news for America” and praising ABC for “finally having the courage to do what needed to be done.” Meanwhile, Kimmel’s fate at the network remains uncertain, with his talk show having been in ratings free fall well ahead of the scandal.