ABC Stations Drop ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Amidst Controversy, host Reportedly ‘Livid’
NEW YORK – A meaningful number of ABC-owned television stations have stopped airing “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” following a controversial monologue regarding Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential candidate, according to reports. The move, described as “unprecedented” by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr, has reportedly left host Jimmy Kimmel “f–king livid.”
The decision by ABC’s parent company, Disney, to allow stations to drop the show stems from Kimmel’s recent on-air commentary about Ramaswamy, which included a clip edited to suggest the candidate was insensitive about the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Nexstar and Sinclair Broadcast Group, major station owners, were among the first to pull the show from their lineups. This action has ignited a debate about the role of late-night comedy, political commentary, and the responsibilities of broadcasters.
Sources familiar with the situation told the Daily Mail that Kimmel views the station drop as politically motivated, fueled by a desire to support former President Donald Trump.”They both don’t want Trump to win in any way or fashion at all, and this has lit an extreme fire under Jimmy’s ass to continue to tell it like it is indeed and be real to himself,” one source stated. The report also suggests Kimmel is planning to feature Stephen Colbert, whose “Late Show” is also ending in May 2026, on his program this week to discuss the situation.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr characterized the broadcasters’ decision as a ”turning point” in media, telling Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday, “I can’t imagine another time when we’ve had local broadcasters tell a national programmer like Disney that your content no longer meets the needs and the values of our community.” Carr further criticized late-night shows for becoming “court clerics” enforcing a “very narrow political ideology.”
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has been a fixture on ABC since its debut in 2004. The show’s removal from local stations raises questions about the future of the program and the boundaries of political satire in late-night television. Carr has called for a public apology from ABC and Kimmel, stating the network’s rejection of the show is “an crucial turning point.”
Following the initial controversy, Kimmel offered condolences on social media to Vivek ramaswamy’s family after the candidate’s close ally, Bill Kirk, was killed.
Additional reporting by Victor Nava
