Jimmy Kimmel Live! aired just two episodes this week before ABC pulled it off the air amid criticism over host Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks about late conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel, 57, welcomed the likes of Last Week Tonight host John Oliver and Rob Lowe on Monday, September 15, and Tuesday, September 16, respectively, before ABC announced the show was indefinitely “pre-empted” on Wednesday, September 17. The decision came after Nexstar Media Group, which owns and operates 32 ABC affiliate stations around the U.S., said it would not air Kimmel’s show.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely,” an ABC spokesperson confirmed to Us Weekly on Wednesday, September 17.
Earlier Wednesday, Nexstar said in a press release its “owned and partner television stations affiliated with the ABC Television Network will pre-empt Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the foreseeable future, beginning with tonight’s show.”
“Nexstar strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets,” the statement added.
During the Monday episode of his talk show, Kimmel referenced Kirk’s death. “The MAGA Gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” he said, referring to Tyler Robinson, the suspect arrested and charged in relation to Kirk’s death.
Kirk was gunned down during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University on September 10. He was 31.
Before his show was pulled from the schedules, Kimmel was due to welcome celebrity guests including Wanda Sykes and Chelsea Handler on his show later this week.
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Here is a look at the Jimmy Kimmel Live! schedule for the week:
Monday, September 15
John Oliver
Frank Grillo
Musical guest: Zac Brown Band
Tuesday, September 16
Rob Lowe
Grace Van Patten
Musical guest: Margo Price
Canceled shows
Wednesday, September 17
Wanda Sykes
Jay Shetty
Chef Christian Petroni
Thursday, September 18
Chelsea Handler
Bill Nye
Musical guest: The Swell Season
Friday, September 19
Guests TBC
