ABC network decided to pull Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show off the air on Wednesday following threats from the US government to revoke broadcasting licenses due to remarks made by the host regarding the killing of conservative figure Charlie Kirk. Critics condemned the network’s action as government censorship, while former President Donald Trump, known for his disdain towards comedians mocking him, applauded the move. Trump had previously expressed joy over the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show and called for the removal of two other comedians.
The controversy emerged after the recent fatal shooting of Kirk, a prominent Trump supporter, on a university campus in Utah. This tragic event reignited debates on accountability in the deeply divided American society, with conservatives, including Trump, pointing fingers at “the radical left.” Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old individual, was identified as the lone gunman and faces a murder charge, according to authorities.
During his show’s opening monologue on Monday, Kimmel addressed the shooting incident, criticizing supporters of the “Make America Great Again” movement for attempting to distance themselves from the assailant. Kimmel highlighted a video clip of Trump swiftly shifting from discussing Kirk’s death to boasting about a new White House ballroom, eliciting laughter from the audience. The host remarked that Trump’s behavior resembled that of a child mourning a pet rather than an adult grieving the loss of a friend.