ABC News and Disney are facing boycott calls on the heels of Jimmy Kimmel Live! being pulled from the air indefinitely on Wednesday over remarks made by the host after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Newsweek reached out to Disney via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Broadcasters pulling a national late‑night show raises questions about free expression, the power of major station groups to shape local lineups and potential regulatory pressure on networks.
Nexstar’s decision affects dozens of ABC affiliates and advertisers, and the FCC chair’s public comments have prompted concerns from civil‑liberties groups.
Sinclair Inc. media company also pulled Jimmy Kimmel’s show from its ABC affiliates and called on the late-night show host to apologize to the family of Kirk and donate to the family and Turning Point USA.
What To Know
ABC announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be “pre‑empted indefinitely.”
“Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located,” Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, said in a statement.
The controversy centers on remarks Kimmel made in a monologue after Kirk’s death in which he floated that the suspect in the killing, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, could be aligned with “the MAGA gang” or possibly “one of them.”
Kimmel also took a swipe at President Donald Trump’s answer to a reporter asking him how he was holding up after Kirk’s fatal shooting.
Social media erupted in backlash and praise to Kimmel’s show being pulled Wednesday night.
Brian Krassenstein, political commentator who gained social media notoriety for blasting Trump, posted to X on Wednesday: “BOYCOTT ALERT! Disney/ABC just caved & pulled Jimmy Kimmel for political reasons. Nexstar — which owns The CW + 200+ local ABC, NBC, CBS & FOX stations — is part of the same machine.”
“💥 Boycott Disney. Boycott Nexstar. Boycott their advertisers. Hit them where it hurts: the $$$. RESHARE,” his post concluded.
Fred Guttenberg, father of slain Parkland shooting victim, also posted on X Wednesday: “The 2A killed the First Amendment. @jimmykimmel was right. If my memory is correct, these MAGAT’s ran against cancel culture. Shame on @ABCNetwork. My television will never be on ABC ever again.”
Podcast host and YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen reacted on Bluesky Wednesday, saying, “See ya, Hulu.” The post included a picture of a canceled subscription.
Trump praised the decision to pull Kimmel’s show indefinitely, saying on Truth Social, “Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.”
The president added, “Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT”
What People Are Saying
Columnist and public speaker Wajahat Ali, on X Wednesday: “Every major talent that works for ABC and Disney should refuse to show up for work until Jimmy Kimmel is reinstated. Marvel movies need to shutdown. Ditto the sitcoms. Collective boycott. Corporations love money more than anything, & this will really harm them and force them to do the right thing.”
Podcast host Joanne Carducci, known as JoJoFromJerz, on X Wednesday: “Boycott everything affiliated with ABC and Disney. Pass it on.”
Democratic strategist Keith Edwards, on X Wednesday: “Boycott Disney. Cancel Hulu. Don’t let them get away with this.”
Elizabeth Warren, Democratic senator from Massachusetts, on X Wednesday: “First Colbert, now Kimmel. Last-minute settlements, secret side deals, multi-billion dollar mergers pending Donald Trump’s approval. Trump silencing free speech stifles our democracy. It sure looks like giant media companies are enabling his authoritarianism.”
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, on X Wednesday: “I want to thank Nexstar for doing the right thing. Local broadcasters have an obligation to serve the public interest. While this may be an unprecedented decision, it is important for broadcasters to push back on Disney programming that they determine falls short of community values. I hope that other broadcasters follow Nexstar’s lead.”
DNC Chair Ken Martin, in a statement sent to Newsweek Wednesday night via email: “The state under Donald Trump has amassed a chilling record of restricting speech, extorting private companies, and dropping the full weight of the government censorship hammer on First Amendment rights. This is no exaggeration. Trump’s attorney general has directly confirmed that they’ll come after you for your speech and now his FCC chair has doubled down. It’s not the bully pulpit anymore — it’s the thought police presidency.”
What Happens Next
ABC’s suspension is open-ended; the network and its affiliates may negotiate next steps internally, and Nexstar’s position could influence other station groups’ programming choices.
Regulatory filings or formal complaints to the FCC could follow, as the agency has received public attention in the aftermath of Carr’s statements.
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