Nexstar, Sinclair Refuse to Air ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Despite Disney Ending Suspension

The fallout from Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial remarks is far from over. Even though Disney has reinstated Jimmy Kimmel Live! after a brief suspension, two of the nation’s largest broadcasting groups — Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group — say they will keep the late-night show off the air on their ABC affiliates until further notice.

On Tuesday, Nexstar issued a statement confirming that it would continue preempting Kimmel’s show across its 32 ABC affiliate stations. The company defended its decision, saying it acted last week after what ABC itself called Kimmel’s “ill-timed and insensitive” remarks at a critical moment for the country.

“We made a decision last week to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! following what ABC referred to as Mr. Kimmel’s ‘ill-timed and insensitive’ comments at a critical time in our national discourse. We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve,” Nexstar’s statement read.

The company added that viewers still have ways to watch Kimmel:

“In the meantime, we note that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be available nationwide on multiple Disney-owned streaming products, while our stations will focus on continuing to produce local news and other programming relevant to their respective markets.”

Sinclair Broadcast Group, which operates 30 ABC affiliates, announced a similar move on Monday.

“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming,” Sinclair said in its statement. “Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.”

The controversy began last Wednesday, when Kimmel’s show was abruptly pulled after he made inflammatory comments about Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk. During his broadcast, Kimmel suggested that Robinson was a MAGA supporter, sparking outrage from conservative groups and political figures.

“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang 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,” Kimmel said.

Those remarks prompted a strong reaction from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). FCC Chairman Brendan Carr condemned Kimmel’s comments as “some of the sickest conduct” he had seen from a national broadcaster and hinted that there were “avenues” the FCC could explore in response.

Under pressure from Nexstar and Sinclair, which had already pulled the show from their schedules, Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! last week. Reports suggested that Kimmel refused to issue an on-air apology for his remarks, further complicating negotiations with ABC executives.

On Monday, Disney announced that Kimmel would return to the air, with the comedian expected to address the controversy during Tuesday night’s broadcast.

The situation has ignited a fierce political and cultural debate. Many liberals have accused Disney, Nexstar, and Sinclair of punishing Kimmel for exercising his First Amendment rights. Free-speech advocates argue that his suspension sets a dangerous precedent for censorship in entertainment.

Conservatives, however, counter that Kimmel crossed the line by falsely linking Robinson to the MAGA movement and that his remarks were offensive and inflammatory. They have praised Nexstar and Sinclair for taking action, arguing that national broadcasters have a responsibility to maintain standards of fairness and decency.

The timing of Nexstar’s decision is significant. The company recently announced a $6.2 billion deal to acquire broadcast media giant Tegna, which would expand Nexstar’s footprint into 116 U.S. markets, covering more than 220 million viewers. The acquisition would also strengthen Nexstar’s reach in key election battleground states such as Arizona, Georgia, and Ohio — areas where political advertising is expected to surge heading into the 2026 midterms. The deal still requires FCC approval, making Nexstar’s public emphasis on “constructive dialogue” and “responsible programming” particularly notable.

With Nexstar and Sinclair controlling a combined 62 ABC affiliates, their decision to keep Kimmel off the air could significantly impact his ratings and ad revenue, even as the show remains available on Disney’s streaming platforms like Hulu and Disney+.

As Kimmel prepares to return to TV, all eyes will be on his opening monologue Tuesday night. Whether he doubles down, apologizes, or shifts the conversation could determine not only his own future on ABC but also the broader debate over free speech, corporate responsibility, and the role of broadcasters in today’s polarized media landscape.