Into Thin Air: Jimmy Kimmel Live! Indefinitely Disappears
What this decision reveals about free speech and political polarization in the United States.
BY LILY SMITH ★ September 23RD, 2025
Design by: Sofia Floresca
*Note: This article was originally written while “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was off the air.
The show has since returned, but the reflections below discuss its hiatus and broader impact.
On Wednesday, September 17, ABC announced it will indefinitely pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air following pressure from the Federal Communications Commission over Kimmel’s remarks about the political affiliation of Charlie Kirk’s accused assassin.
On his Monday show, Kimmel said 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.”
ABC gave no explanation for its decision , which came about two months after CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, raising questions about free speech and censorship in the United States.
As of now, authorities have not confirmed the political affiliation of the accused assassin, Tyler Robinson. However, his grandmother told prosecutors that before Kirk’s killing he had been leaning left and supporting LGBTQ communities. His roommate is transgender and has been verified as romantically involved with him.
I have never been an avid viewer of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, but I have seen enough clips online to recognize Kimmel’s prominence in the talk show and comedy realm. I always found his “Celebrities Read Mean Tweets” segment hilarious, with guests such as Zendaya and 5 Seconds of Summer. That made the show's sudden suspension all the more surprising.
It is possible Kimmel’s statement was inaccurate, but there is no clear evidence to confirm or refute his words. What is clear is that Robinson deeply hated Kirk. Kimmel’s remark was not nearly harmful enough to justify canceling the show. While disinformation is a serious issue in the United States, the show’s influence was not significant enough to cause real concern, nor was the comment itself.
In response to Kimmel’s suspension, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social saying, “Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.” He also wrote, “Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!”
Trump supporters and other conservatives have argued that the cancellations of these late-night talk shows are consequences rather than censorship. Trump’s post, however, suggests otherwise, implying there is a target on shows known for being critical and satirical of him.
On the other side, supporters of Kimmel and liberals have expressed concern over free speech and the show’s suspension. Hosts including Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Jon Stewart have voiced support for Kimmel on their shows. Many liberals argue the suspension is an infringement on free speech and that Kirk’s death is being used to condemn those who disagree with Trump.
This response to Kimmel’s suspension reflects the political divide that characterizes the United States, with both sides treating the other as adversaries.The censorship of these shows is not a left or right issue— it is a censorship issue, one that directly challenges the First Amendment right to free speech. That reality must be acknowledged before any progress can be made. It may sound cliché, but working together is the only way the two sides will be able to move forward. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee Kimmel will return to the air. While I hope he does, the trajectory of this issue suggests otherwise. So I’ll ask what I know is on everyone’s mind…Which late-night talk show will be next?
Edited by: Chloe Rudnick