“We stand by that decision”: Nexstar refuses to air ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ following backlash to Charlie Kirk remarks

Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC late-night show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, is set to return, but many TV viewers will not see it on their local stations. Major station owners like Nexstar and Sinclair have decided not to air the show after controversial remarks made about Charlie Kirk. They say they will air local news or other shows instead.

This refusal follows ABC’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Disney, which owns ABC, pulled the show after backlash to Kimmel’s comments about Charlie Kirk’s killing. ABC said the remarks were "ill-timed and insensitive."

Nexstar says it decided to preempt (not show) the program because it objects strongly to what Kimmel said. The company says it wants to protect respectful talk in its TV markets.

What Nexstar and Sinclair are saying about Jimmy Kimmel Live!?

Nexstar Media Group, which owns many ABC affiliates, said it will not air Jimmy Kimmel Live! on its stations until further notice. It said it "strongly objects" to Kimmel's remarks about the killing of Charlie Kirk. Nexstar said it will replace the show with other programming in the markets it serves. The statement reads:

"We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve."

Sinclair, another big owner of local ABC stations, has made similar moves. Sinclair said the suspension of Kimmel’s show is "not enough." It is demanding that Jimmy Kimmel apologize to Charlie Kirk’s family and make a "meaningful personal donation" to that family and to the organization Turning Point USA. Until those things happen, Sinclair says it will not return the show to its stations.

Both companies say this is a time of strong feelings in the country. They want talk shows and local stations to act with care. They say people watching expect respect and honesty when sensitive topics come up.

What ABC, Disney, and others are doing?

ABC and Disney have already taken steps. Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely after the backlash. The show was off the air for several days. Then Disney said it would bring the show back. It said it had "thoughtful conversations" with Kimmel.

It also stated it suspended the show mostly because some comments were ill-timed and insensitive, and because the moment was emotionally raw in many places. Even though ABC is ready to resume, the refusal by Nexstar and Sinclair means many local viewers still won’t see it on their ABC channel. Combined, those two station groups cover about 25% of the national ABC viewing audience. That is a large share.

Others are reacting too. Some people say this is a matter of free speech. They argue that pulling a show over comments is risky for open talk and debate. Others say that stations have a right to decide what is acceptable in their communities. They say TV stations are also businesses, and they must consider how viewers will feel and how the public or regulators will react.

Additionally, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has been brought into this. Brendan Carr, chair of the FCC, commented that local stations should consider whether broadcasts are responsible, especially after remarks that many found controversial. Some station owners say they made decisions before hearing from the FCC, and that their decisions were their own.

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As of now, even though Jimmy Kimmel Live! is returning, many ABC local stations owned by Nexstar and Sinclair will keep it off the air for now. They want apologies and actions from Kimmel himself. Meanwhile, Disney and ABC say they have addressed the issue and will continue the show.

For many viewers, whether they see the show will depend on their local station’s choice.

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