Nexstar Media Group says it will not resume broadcasting “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on its stations, even after ABC cleared the late-night host to return to air. The decision extends the suspension the company announced following remarks Kimmel made about the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
According to The Daily Caller, Nexstar doubled down Tuesday on its stance, citing the need for “respectful” and “constructive dialogue” across its markets. Disney, which owns ABC, had earlier approved Kimmel’s comeback after holding what executives described as “thoughtful conversations” with the comedian.
Kimmel faced backlash after his Sept. 15 monologue, in which he falsely linked Kirk’s assassin to supporters of President Donald Trump and mocked Trump’s grieving process. Disney initially suspended the show indefinitely, but later backtracked, saying Kimmel would resume hosting duties.
Nexstar said it acted after weighing the impact of Kimmel’s comments on polarization at what it called a “critical time in our national discourse.” The company stressed that its broadcast audiences expect programming that contributes to constructive debate and civility.
“As we preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!,’ we are prioritizing programming relevant to our communities, including local news,” Nexstar said in a statement. The broadcaster added that the show remains available nationwide through Disney-owned streaming platforms.
The move followed Disney’s earlier classification of Kimmel’s comments as “ill-timed and insensitive.” Kimmel, however, reportedly was preparing to double down rather than apologize, raising concerns for Disney executives.
Sinclair Broadcast Group, another major operator of ABC affiliates, announced Monday that it too would suspend airing Kimmel’s show. Like Nexstar, Sinclair cited Kimmel’s remarks about Kirk and Trump in defending its decision.
With both Nexstar and Sinclair blocking the program, Kimmel’s late-night show can only be viewed on ABC’s primary network and through Disney’s digital products. This significantly reduces the program’s reach through traditional local affiliates.
The ongoing blackout underscores a rare split between Disney and its broadcast partners, whose independent decisions impact millions of potential viewers. Disney executives had hoped to calm tensions by reinstating Kimmel following private discussions.
On Sept. 15, Kimmel accused conservatives of trying to distance the assassin from the “MAGA gang,” alleging they sought to score political points from the tragedy. He also criticized Trump’s mourning of Kirk, likening it to “a 4-year-old mourning a goldfish.”
The comments immediately sparked outrage among conservatives, who accused Kimmel of exploiting a political murder for comedic effect. Observers noted that Disney quickly intervened to suspend the host over fears he would become further entangled in political controversy.
Reports indicated that Disney CEO Bob Iger and Entertainment Co-Chair Dana Walden opposed Kimmel’s plans to launch into additional criticism, worried it would “fan the flames” with Trump’s base. Kimmel did not issue a public apology.
Disney confirmed on Monday that the show would return to air after leadership reached an understanding with Kimmel. The network framed the outcome as a result of “thoughtful conversations” about his role and approach.
Nonetheless, affiliate powerhouses such as Nexstar and Sinclair are free to preempt syndicated programming if they believe it misaligns with local or corporate interests. Their refusal demonstrates the limits of Disney’s authority over content distribution.
ABC now faces a fractured situation where its flagship late-night program bypasses key affiliates, limiting visibility for advertisers and reducing local reach. Viewers wanting to watch Kimmel in affected regions must rely on cable or streaming rather than local TV.