Jimmy Kimmel Live! taken off air over host's remarks

Walt Disney-owned ABC said on Sept 17 that it was pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003 to present) off the air, after remarks by the late-night American talk show’s host about Mr Charlie Kirk’s assassination triggered a threat by the head of the top US communications regulator against Disney.

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US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly pressured broadcasters to stop airing content he has found objectionable and called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to pull licences from stations, celebrated the news in a social media post.

“Jimmy Kimmel Live will be preempted indefinitely,” an ABC spokesperson said, without elaborating.

Mr Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform: “Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.”

Kimmel, 57, made remarks late on Sept 15 about the fatal Sept 10 shooting of Mr Kirk, a 31-year-old American right-wing political activist and media personality, at a Utah university.

“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the Maga gang desperately trying to characterise 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 on his Monday night show, referring to 22-year-old suspect Tyler Robinson, who has been charged with aggravated murder.

The American television personality and comedian also criticised Mr Trump’s mourning of Mr Kirk, pointing to a video of Mr Trump’s comments on the White House lawn. “This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish,” Kimmel said.

Kimmel did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on Sept 17.