ABC has pulled late-night host Jimmy Kimmel off air indefinitely over comments he made about the shooting of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.
Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely, a spokesperson for the Disney-owned network said in a statement. Kimmel did not comment to the BBC as he emerged shortly afterwards from the television studio in Los Angeles.
Earlier this week, Kimmel said during his show that the Maga gang was trying to score political points off Kirk's killing.
A 22-year-old suspect appeared in court on Tuesday charged with aggravated murder over last week's shooting of the 31-year-old conservative activist.
Kimmel said in his Monday night monologue: 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.
The late-night host also criticised flags being flown at half mast in honour of Kirk, and mocked US President Donald Trump's reaction to the shooting.
On the day Kirk was shot, Kimmel took to Instagram to condemn the attack and send love to the conservative activist's family.
Authorities have not specified a motive in Kirk's fatal shooting on 10 September. According to charging documents, the suspect's mother explained that over the last year or so, he had become political and started to lean more to the left – becoming more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented.
Shortly after ABC announced Kimmel had been suspended, Trump said it was great news for America.
The FCC chair Brendan Carr deemed Kimmel's remarks as the sickest conduct possible, while others, including Anna Gomez from the Democratic side of the FCC, defended Kimmel's right to free speech.
The move by ABC came after Nexstar Media stated they would not air 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' due to Kimmel's offensive and insensitive comments.
Supporters of Kimmel expressed frustration regarding the suspension, highlighting issues of free speech and censorship in current political discourse.
A person familiar with Kimmel's situation stated he hadn’t been fired, emphasizing that discussions about what he should say on air are ongoing.
