The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show has taken on a haunting twist, as social media users rediscovered a 2017 tweet from Charlie Kirk in which the conservative activist dismissed the comedian with just four words: “Jimmy Kimmel isn’t funny.”
The resurfaced post comes after ABC confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be “pre-empted indefinitely” following widespread backlash to the host’s remarks about Kirk’s assassination.
During Monday’s monologue, Kimmel suggested that Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of murdering Kirk, could have been a pro-Trump supporter.
“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,” Kimmel said. “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.”
The comments immediately drew fire from affiliates, leading to ABC and its partners pulling the plug.
As the news spread, Kirk’s old tweet quickly went viral. Fans seized on the coincidence, calling it eerie that the activist’s four-word dismissal of Kimmel had resurfaced just as the comedian faced his own career crisis. “You won,” one user wrote. Another declared it “total victory,” while a third said, “Charlie Kirk can hear us.”
Affiliate Stations Push Back
The controversy intensified as major affiliate groups began refusing to air Kimmel’s program. Nexstar Media Group, which operates 23 ABC stations, announced in a press release that it would replace Jimmy Kimmel Live! with alternative programming.
“Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse,” said Nexstar broadcasting president Andrew Alford. “Continuing to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve is simply not in the public interest at the current time.”
Sinclair Broadcast Group, like Nexstar, also stopped airing the show.
Corporate & Political Fallout
The backlash couldn’t have come at a more sensitive moment for Nexstar, which is currently seeking FCC approval for a $6.2 billion takeover of TEGNA. If approved, the deal would make Nexstar the single largest owner of local TV stations in the United States.
BREAKING: The FCC Chairman is threatening immediate action against Jimmy Kimmel, ABC, and Disney for deliberately misleading the public by claiming Charlie Kirk’s assassin was a MAGA Conservative.
For the acquisition to move forward, the FCC would need to raise its 40% ownership cap — a decision that could hinge on the commission’s view of whether broadcasters are serving the “public interest.” By distancing itself from Kimmel, insiders say Nexstar may be trying to smooth its path with regulators.
The Future of Kimmel
For Kimmel, the suspension is the latest blow in a late-night landscape already shaken by Stephen Colbert’s cancellation earlier this summer. Insiders say the host is furious at ABC’s decision and may be looking to sever ties with the network altogether.
But for Kirk’s supporters, the viral resurfacing of his “isn’t funny” remark feels like poetic justice — a parting shot from beyond the grave that has now defined the dramatic downfall of his on-air rival.