To recap, during Kimmel’s\u00a0opening monologue on Monday, he suggested that Tyler Robinson – the 22-year-old charged in the fatal shooting at Utah University – was aligned with conservatives. \u201cThe MAGA gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.<\/strong>”<\/p>\n By Wednesday, he was fired – leading to cries of censorship and ‘free speech’ by the left, which is hilarious.<\/p>\n Yet, according to an insider report by the\u00a0Wall Street Journal<\/em>,\u00a0Kimmel’s ouster was prompted by an immediate revolt by viewers and affiliate networks<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>including Nexstar, and\u00a0concerned advertisers<\/strong><\/u>.<\/p>\n Advertisers and affiliates soon called the network expressing concern about Kimmel\u2019s show…<\/strong>\u00a0–WSJ<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n “Mr.<\/strong>\u00a0Kimmel\u2019s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive<\/strong>\u00a0at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located,” said Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division. “Continuing to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve is simply not in the public interest at the current time<\/strong>, and we have made the difficult decision to preempt his show.”<\/p>\n Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr blasted Kimmel on Wednesday, telling podcaster Benny Johnson\u00a0that Kimmel’s comments were “truly sick,” and that there’s a “strong case” for legal action against both ABC and Disney (ABC is a Disney subsidiary).\u00a0“This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney,” said Carr. “These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”<\/p>\n BREAKING: The FCC Chairman is threatening immediate action against Jimmy Kimmel, ABC, and Disney for deliberately misleading the public by claiming Charlie Kirk\u2019s assassin was a MAGA Conservative.<\/p>\n Chairman Brendan Carr calls Kimmel\u2019s malicious lies are \u201ctruly sick\u201d and says they\u2026\u00a0pic.twitter.com\/mGhtGMPReI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson)\u00a0September 17, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Yet according to Nexstar,<\/strong>\u00a0Carr’s comments weren’t a factor<\/strong>. “The decision to preempt \u2018Jimmy Kimmel Live!\u2019 was made unilaterally by the senior executive team at Nexstar, and they had no communication with the FCC or any government agency prior to making that decision,” a Nexstar spokesman said.<\/p>\n Disney executives weighed whether Kimmel should address the controversy directly on Wednesday night\u2019s program. According to people familiar with the matter,\u00a0Dana Walden, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, and Chief Executive Robert Iger decided his planned remarks risked inflaming the situation further.<\/strong><\/p>\n After the conversation between Kimmel and Walden,\u00a0she and other senior executives thought that the star\u2019s approach could make the situation worse,<\/strong>\u00a0people familiar with their conversations said. Executives also discussed staff safety, including threatening emails staff on Kimmel\u2019s show had received after Carr\u2019s remarks and the posting of some of their personal information online, the people said.<\/em><\/p>\n Walden huddled with her team and Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger before the two executives decided to temporarily take \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live!\u201d off the air<\/strong>, the people said. She then informed Kimmel of the decision. -WSJ<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n According to a person close to the show,\u00a0Kimmel was planning to say that MAGA was purposefully twisting his words<\/strong>. So, another lie.<\/p>\n Hollywood unions and producers criticized Disney\u2019s move, calling it corporate capitulation.<\/strong>\u00a0Damon Lindelof, co-creator of the ABC drama Lost, said he would not want to work for a company that sidelined Kimmel. Former late-night host David Letterman described the decision as \u201cmanaged media\u201d and warned of broader consequences.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all see where this is going, correct? It\u2019s managed media. And it\u2019s no good<\/strong>,\u201d David Letterman, the former late-night host, said at an Atlantic magazine event Thursday.<\/p>\n Actor Ben Stiller said (and then blocked replies) “This isn’t right,” to which Elon Musk replied “He went full retard. Never go full retard.”<\/p>\n He went full retard. Never go full retard.<\/p>\n \u2014 Elon Musk (@elonmusk)\u00a0September 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Democratic lawmakers and former President Barack Obama accused the Trump administration of censorship, while Trump applauded the decision and urged other networks to follow. \u201cThey give me only bad press, but they\u2019re getting a license,\u201d he told reporters aboard Air Force One.<\/p>\n Some media critics said Kimmel\u2019s benching, coupled with CBS\u2019s recent decision to cancel its late-night show hosted by frequent Trump critic Stephen Colbert when its season ends in May 2026, will lead shows to self-censor.<\/p>\n Kimmel\u2019s removal comes as CBS prepares to sunset Stephen Colbert\u2019s late-night program in 2026.<\/strong>\u00a0Media critics say the combination of events could have a chilling effect on political commentary in late-night television.<\/p>\n \u201cThe degree of capitulation going forward will to some extent be a function of what kind of financial cudgel the administration has to wield,\u201d said Lee Levine, a retired media lawyer. \u201cWhenever the cudgel has been pretty significant, sooner or later the network caved in the recent past.\u201d<\/p>\n For Disney, the choice to take Kimmel off the air was the product of overlapping political pressure, regulatory risk, affiliate revolt, and advertiser anxiety – a convergence that left little room for delay. By late Wednesday afternoon, the decision was made: Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be \u201cpreempted indefinitely.\u201d<\/p>\n Of course,\u00a0who was even watching?<\/strong><\/p>\n HOLY SHIT<\/p>\n Kimmel was ONLY Getting 129,000 Viewers<\/p>\n hahahahah<\/p>\n I can post a picture of a cat and get more views than that\u00a0pic.twitter.com\/gUd3sUgwa7<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Tim Pool (@Timcast)\u00a0September 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Also,\u00a0WTF…<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.zerohedge.com\/s3\/files\/inline-images\/17xp-kimmel-react-vjfq-articleLarge-v3_80.jpg?itok=ZPHr-3NR\")
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Industry and Political Response<\/h2>\n
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