The American television network ABC announced on Wednesday evening that it was suspending the Jimmy Kimmel show "indefinitely" after conservatives accused the famous TV host of inaccurately describing the political views of the man accused of murdering Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was shot on September 10 during an appearance on a university campus in Utah. The 31-year-old was considered one of the most influential right-wing activists and supporters of President Donald Trump among young Americans.
The sudden decision by the television channel, owned by the Walt Disney Company, came hours after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr attacked Jimmy Kimmel and suggested that the regulatory agency take action against ABC over comments the host made Monday night, the New York Times reported.
ABC did not explain its decision, but the series of events on Wednesday, September 17, has become an extraordinary exercise of political pressure on a major television network by the Donald Trump administration, the New York Times reported.
The comments that sparked the heated reactions were made during Jimmy Kimmel's opening monologue on September 15. "We reached new lows over the weekend, with the MAGA gang desperately trying to portray this young man who killed Charlie Kirk as something different from them and doing everything they could to make political profit from it," the host said.
Conservative activists criticized Kimmel's remarks, saying they misrepresented the political beliefs of Tyler Robinson, the shooter. According to prosecutors, Robinson wrote in private messages about Kirk's "hatred", but authorities have not determined which of Kirk's views the suspect found hateful, the "New York Times" reports. The publication adds that the accused's mother told prosecutors that her son had recently moved to the political left and had become "more oriented towards gay and transgender rights".
Trump: "Great news for America"
US President Donald Trump expressed satisfaction with the decision to cancel Jimmy Kimmel's show and called for other shows with hosts he doesn't like to be canceled. "Great news for America", he commented on his social network Truth Social. "Congratulations to ABC for finally finding the courage to do what needed to be done." Trump also drew attention to fellow comedians Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, calling them "two total losers" and called on NBC to follow suit and cancel their shows. "Do it, NBC!!!", the president's appeal reads.
American evening shows have been under increased pressure since it was announced that CBS will be dropping the popular host Stephen Colbert's show from May next year. The television station said the decision to cancel the show was made for financial reasons, but many in the media industry speculated that the goal was to curry favor with the Trump administration. The president has repeatedly said that besides Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel is a thorn in his side, recalls German public broadcaster ARD, adding that both hosts often make sharp and biting jokes about the US president.
"The New York Times" writes that according to two people familiar with the program, Jimmy Kimmel planned to respond to the negative reaction to his comments about Kirk's killer on his show on Wednesday, September 17. The publication states that the management of the Walt Disney Company decided to stop the show shortly before the taping began. According to sources familiar with the discussions within the media company, the decision to stop the show was made by Robert A. Iger, CEO of Walt Disney, and Dana Walden, the company's television director, the "New York Times" also writes.
Fans, celebrities and politicians from the Democratic Party reacted sharply to the decision to stop Jimmy Kimmel Live. According to them, it is about censorship and an attack on free speech. At the same time, conservative activists and conservative media personalities welcomed the removal of the show.
California Governor, Democrat Gavin Newsom, said on Wednesday that the Republican campaign to pressure media companies to fire hosts, cancel shows and establish control over media platforms is "coordinated" and a "dangerous" attack on the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Tommy Vitor, a former national security spokesman in President Barack Obama's administration and host of the liberal political podcast Pod Save America, called the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's show "absurd." "If Mr. Kimmel made a factual error, he should correct it," Vitor said on X, but "suspending or canceling the show is an overreaction." "That's not something democracies do. That's something autocracies do. And it doesn't matter whether you agree with Kimmel or not, he has a right to free speech," said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.
At the same time, conservatives like commentator Mark R. Levin believe that host Jimmy Kimmel should have been "fired a long time ago." "Better late than never", Levin commented.
How to comment on Kirk's murder?
A heated discussion is underway in the United States about how to comment on the death of Charlie Kirk, whose sometimes extremely conservative to far-right views were strongly contested. Donald Trump and his government have announced that they will take measures against commentators who, in their opinion, do not speak out appropriately about the 31-year-old man shot dead in Utah, writes ARD. According to critics, it is extremely worrying that freedom of the press and freedom of expression remain in the background.
Author: Maria Ilcheva