Shortly after Jimmy Kimmel made comments related to the shooting of late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, ABC (a Disney affiliate) pulled his late-night television show off the air “indefinitely,” according to a September 17, 2025, statement from a representative. So, does this mean he was fired and his show is canceled?
“Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be pre-empted indefinitely,” an ABC spokesperson said. Per CNN, the rep declined to share further details.
The news comes on the heels of fellow late-night comedian Stephen Colbert‘s cancelation, which was confirmed by CBS this past summer. Colbert’s show ended up winning an Emmy Award.
Below, find out what Kimmel’s “indefinite” hiatus means for him and his show.
Was Jimmy Kimmel Fired by ABC?
Not necessarily, but an “indefinite” break from ABC hints at a future cancelation. ABC did not verify whether his show is actually canceled, or if he was fired.
However, Nexstar, an ABC-affiliated station, said it won’t broadcast Kimmel’s show for the “foreseeable future,” per CNN, adding that it “strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets.”
Jimmy Kimmel’s full comments on Charlie Kirk which led to his show being taken off air indefinitely. pic.twitter.com/Ctg7LL8HWL
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 18, 2025
What Does ABC Mean by ‘Pre-Empted Indefinitely’ for Kimmel?
ABC declined to elaborate any further on the matter, but a spokesperson said Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be “pre-empted indefinitely,” meaning that the late-night show has been stalled from airing for now.
What Did Jimmy Kimmel Say About Charlie Kirk? His Comments
Kimmel actually condemned the shooting of Kirk, which took place at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.
“Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human?” Kimmel wrote on Instagram after Kirk died. “On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.”
What Did Jimmy Kimmel Say About Tyler Robinson?
After Tyler Robinson was named the primary suspect in Kirk’s murder, Kimmel said, “The MAGA Gang (is) desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it. In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.”
