Nexstar Media Group mentioned Tuesday that it’ll proceed to preempt Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night TV present after ABC introduced it might enable this system to return after a weeklong hiatus following Kimmel’s remarks about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
“We decided final week to preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Stay!’ following what ABC known as Mr. Kimmel’s ‘ill-timed and insensitive’ feedback at a vital time in our nationwide discourse,” the corporate mentioned in a statement. “We stand by that call pending assurance that each one events are dedicated to fostering an atmosphere of respectful, constructive dialogue within the markets we serve.”
The corporate added that the present will nonetheless “be out there nationwide on a number of Disney-owned streaming merchandise, whereas our stations will concentrate on persevering with to supply native information and different programming related to their respective markets.”
Aside from Nexstar, Sinclair Broadcast Group additionally mentioned that it might hold preempting Kimmel’s present after ABC’s announcement on Monday night. As an alternative of Kimmel’s present, Sinclair mentioned that it might air information programming.
“Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we consider the present’s potential return,” the corporate mentioned in an announcement to a number of information retailers.
Nexstar owns 32 ABC stations throughout the USA. Sinclair owns 30 ABC affiliate stations.
ABC suspended Kimmel indefinitely on Sept. 17 after feedback he made in a monologue about Kirk, who was killed Sept. 10 whereas talking at an occasion on a college campus in Utah.
Kimmel mentioned in that monologue that “many in MAGA land are working very laborious to capitalize on the homicide of Charlie Kirk” and that “the MAGA gang” was “desperately making an attempt to characterize this child who murdered Charlie Kirk as something apart from one in every of them.” MAGA stands for President Donald Trump’s “Make America Nice Once more” coverage agenda.
The suspect in Kirk’s assassination, Tyler Robinson, is alleged by prosecutors to have had left-wing political opinions and was pro-transgender. Robinson additionally allegedly informed relations and native legislation enforcement that he shot Kirk due to Kirk’s views, officers mentioned final week.
Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Level USA, the group based by Kirk and now headed by his widow, Erika, posted on X about Kimmel’s reinstatement: “Disney and ABC caving and permitting Kimmel again on the air is no surprise, nevertheless it’s their mistake to make. Nexstar and Sinclair wouldn’t have to make the identical selection.”
After ABC’s determination, Trump, one in every of Kimmel’s frequent targets, posted on social media that the comic’s suspension was “nice information for America.” The president additionally referred to as for different comparable late-night hosts to be fired. He has but to touch upon Kimmel’s reinstatement.
Earlier than Kimmel’s temporary suspension, Brendan Carr, head of the Federal Communications Fee, warned throughout an interview with podcaster Benny Johnson that he would take motion towards ABC over Kimmel’s remarks. After Kimmel was suspended, Carr informed CNBC that the late-night host appeared to have made deceptive statements concerning the incident and famous in one other interview with Fox Information final week that broadcasters like ABC, NBC, and CBS have extra stringent necessities below the FCC’s jurisdiction to not mislead the general public.
Carr rebutted on Monday accusations that he threatened to revoke ABC’s native station licenses due to Kimmel’s remarks.
“Jimmy Kimmel is within the state of affairs he’s in due to his scores. Not due to something that’s occurred on the federal authorities stage,” Carr mentioned on the Concordia Annual Summit.
The Epoch Instances contacted ABC for remark Tuesday.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
In the event you discovered this text fascinating, please take into account supporting conventional journalism
Our first version was revealed 25 years in the past from a basement in Atlanta. As we speak, The Epoch Instances brings fact-based, award-winning journalism to hundreds of thousands of Individuals.
Our journalists have been threatened, arrested, and assaulted, however our dedication to unbiased journalism has by no means wavered. This yr marks our twenty fifth yr of unbiased reporting, free from company and political affect.
That’s why you’re invited to a limited-time introductory provide — simply $1 per week — so you’ll be able to be a part of hundreds of thousands already celebrating unbiased information.
