“Jimmy Kimmel Live” is returning to the ABC network Tuesday night, but the late-night show is still caught in a storm of backlash and affiliate resistance after remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination prompted a national political controversy.

Disney-owned ABC had suspended the program for one week. The decision came after Kimmel used his Sept. 15 monologue to accuse what he called the “MAGA gang” of trying to “characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”

Those comments sparked an unusual wave of pressure on the network, including a public warning from a senior federal regulator.

📌 Story Highlights

• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” resumes Tuesday on ABC after a suspension over Charlie Kirk remarks.

• Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group will continue to preempt the show on many ABC affiliates.

• FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr warned ABC about Kimmel’s comments.

• Sinclair initially announced a “special in remembrance of Charlie Kirk” but aired “Celebrity Family Feud” instead.

• Former President Donald Trump praised ABC’s suspension decision.

Affiliate Stations Pull Back

Two of California’s ABC affiliates will not air “Jimmy Kimmel Live” this week even as the network brings it back. KRCR-TV in the Chico–Redding market and KAEF-TV in Eureka are both owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, which controls or operates 185 television stations nationwide.

Sinclair confirmed that all of its stations will preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Tuesday. Nexstar Media Group — another of the country’s largest station groups — said it would also continue to withhold the program. Together, Sinclair and Nexstar control about a quarter of ABC affiliates in the U.S., according to the Associated Press.

FCC Pressure Adds Fuel

Two days after Kimmel’s monologue, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson:

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct to take action on Kimmel or, you know, there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”

Carr’s comment signaled possible regulatory scrutiny of ABC and its late-night programming.

Sinclair Responds to the Controversy

Shortly after Carr’s remarks, Sinclair issued a statement saying it would preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and instead air a “special in remembrance of Charlie Kirk.”

In the news release, Sinclair Vice Chairman Jason Smith wrote:

“Mr. Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country.”

The group ultimately aired “Celebrity Family Feud” in the late-night slot but kept Kimmel off the schedule. Smith added that Sinclair “appreciated” Carr’s comments.

ABC Suspension Draws Political Praise

ABC’s own suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” soon followed, halting production entirely. The move drew praise from former President Donald Trump, who has frequently criticized late-night hosts.

The network has now reinstated the program, but the late-night landscape remains fractured, with major affiliate owners still boycotting Kimmel’s show despite its official return.

A Late-Night Show Under Scrutiny

The ongoing affiliate boycott underscores the growing tension between national networks, local station groups, and federal regulators. For “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” the challenge is not just ratings but also managing fallout from politically charged remarks that can lead to programming disruptions in large portions of the country.

As the late-night host steps back onto ABC’s stage, the question is whether the show can recover its full reach — or if the affiliate backlash and political pressure will reshape how “Jimmy Kimmel Live” appears on local television across the U.S.

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