Sinclair Refuses to Air Kimmel: Jimmy Kimmel Live! Still Off the Air

Sinclair Broadcast Group is refusing to back down. On Monday, the company confirmed that it will continue to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! on all of its ABC affiliates — despite Disney and ABC announcing that the late-night talk show will officially return to the airwaves Tuesday night.

The move adds a new wrinkle to an already heated media storm. Sinclair, which owns and operates nearly 40 ABC affiliates across the United States — including one in Washington, D.C. — said it will keep Kimmel’s show off the air for now, replacing it with local news programming instead.

Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return. pic.twitter.com/beGC6VID2x

— Sinclair, Inc. (@WeAreSinclair) September 22, 2025

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

This decision comes just hours after Disney — ABC’s parent company — confirmed that Kimmel’s show would resume after nearly a week of suspension. According to Disney, production had been halted in an attempt to cool tensions following what they described as “ill-timed and insensitive” remarks from Kimmel during a particularly emotional moment for the nation.

“Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” a Disney spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”

The Comments That Sparked the Firestorm

The controversy erupted when Kimmel spoke about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed earlier this month. During his show, Kimmel accused conservatives of trying to shift the narrative surrounding the killing.

“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 comments spread quickly across social media, triggering a wave of criticism from conservative groups, political commentators, and media watchdogs. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr also weighed in, calling Kimmel’s remarks “some of the sickest conduct” and hinting that there might be regulatory “avenues” available to address such behavior.

Facing mounting pressure, Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair — which together control nearly 80 ABC affiliates — announced plans to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! from their schedules. The decision effectively removed Kimmel’s show from dozens of major markets, sharply reducing its national reach.

The Ratings and Free Speech Debate

While some observers view the preemptions as a necessary step to maintain standards of public discourse, others argue that Kimmel is being unfairly punished for exercising his free speech. Many Hollywood figures, media critics, and free-speech advocates have condemned the suspension, claiming it sets a dangerous precedent for silencing controversial voices.

Supporters of Sinclair’s decision counter that this is not about censorship but about accountability. By continuing to block Kimmel’s show, Sinclair and Nexstar are sending a signal that networks must maintain a balance between provocative commentary and responsible broadcasting — especially when dealing with sensitive national events.

Adding to the complexity, some analysts have pointed out that Jimmy Kimmel Live! has struggled with declining ratings in recent years. Critics argue that the controversy has less to do with free speech and more to do with whether the show is profitable enough for affiliates to keep airing.

What Comes Next

Disney has made it clear that it stands by its host and is moving forward with bringing him back on air. However, without the support of Sinclair and Nexstar, Kimmel’s audience reach will remain significantly reduced. Fans who want to watch the show will have to turn to Disney-owned streaming platforms like Hulu and Disney+, where the episodes will still be available.

Negotiations between ABC and Sinclair are ongoing, and there is still a possibility that the show could return to local broadcast television in the coming weeks — provided that both sides can agree on what Sinclair calls a “commitment to respectful, constructive dialogue.”

For now, Sinclair’s decision keeps the late-night battle in the headlines and raises broader questions about the future of television, political commentary, and free expression in an increasingly divided media landscape.

As Kimmel prepares to address the controversy on Tuesday night’s episode, all eyes will be on how he navigates the backlash — and whether his words will help rebuild trust with affiliates, or deepen the divide.