24 ABC Stations Drop Jimmy Kimmel, Fill His Time Slot With Charlie Kirk Tribute as Broadcasters Demand Apology and Donation
The fallout from Jimmy Kimmel’s comments about Charlie Kirk’s tragic death has reached a breaking point. What started as a late-night monologue has now spiraled into one of the most dramatic media shake-ups in recent memory. Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns 24 ABC affiliate stations in some of the largest American cities, announced that they will no longer air Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show in its usual slot. Instead, those stations will dedicate the time to a tribute honoring Charlie Kirk. The move marks a stunning turn of events and a rare public rebuke of one of television’s most established comedians.
Kimmel sparked outrage earlier this week when he suggested that Kirk’s suspected killer was linked to MAGA, despite prosecutors saying the 22-year-old suspect had leftist leanings. His remarks were quickly condemned by viewers, media figures, and politicians, but the pushback from broadcasters has been even more decisive. Sinclair Vice Chairman Jason Smith called the comments “inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country,” explaining that his company could not allow that tone to air on their stations without response.
What makes this even more significant is the set of demands Sinclair outlined. Beyond replacing Kimmel’s show with a tribute to Kirk, the company also insisted that Kimmel make a direct apology to Erika Kirk, Charlie’s wife, and to their children. They also want him to contribute a meaningful personal donation to both the Kirk family and Turning Point USA, the youth movement that Charlie built from the ground up. While unusual, the demand reflects just how seriously many believe Kimmel’s words cut during a period of national grief.
This development did not come out of nowhere. Brendan Carr, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, had already hinted that Kimmel’s remarks could face regulatory scrutiny. Carr said the comments represented some of the “sickest conduct possible” and suggested that there are avenues for the FCC to step in. Sinclair credited Carr directly in their announcement, praising his leadership and pointing to the need for greater accountability when big national networks have control over local broadcasters.
The controversy comes against a backdrop of rising tension between legacy media and a public increasingly skeptical of its tone and bias. Kimmel has long been known for mixing comedy with politics, often leaning into sharp monologues that target conservatives. But in this case, the subject matter struck a nerve. Charlie Kirk was not just a political activist but a young husband and father whose death shocked communities across the country. For many, Kimmel’s decision to frame the tragedy in partisan terms felt like crossing a line.
Now, with 24 stations pulling his show, Kimmel faces one of the most serious professional crises of his career. Late-night television has been struggling to maintain relevance as viewers migrate to online platforms, and the loss of affiliate carriage only deepens the challenges. For Sinclair, the move also sends a message to other broadcasters: moments of national mourning demand sensitivity, not political point-scoring.
The Charlie Kirk tribute programming is expected to highlight his life, his work with Turning Point USA, and the movement he built among young people. Erika Kirk is set to be involved, alongside colleagues and friends who worked with Charlie over the past decade. In a way, the replacement programming not only pushes back against Kimmel’s comments but also elevates Kirk’s story to audiences who may not have followed his work closely before.
For viewers, this clash is about more than a late-night host. It reflects the larger struggle over how stories are told, how tragedies are framed, and who gets to control the narrative. Whether Kimmel will eventually apologize or make the donation Sinclair demanded remains to be seen. What is clear is that the stakes have never been higher for him. A single monologue has now set off a wave of consequences that could reshape his future on television.
In the meantime, the tribute to Charlie Kirk will fill the void where Kimmel once sat, a powerful symbol of both accountability and remembrance.
