Sinclair Broadcast Group won’t air the return of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on its ABC affiliate stations, including Seattle's KOMO, the company announced Monday.
ABC suspended Kimmel last week following his comments about pro-Trump conservatives capitalizing on Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Kimmel also claimed the shooter was part of the MAGA gang," and while members of the alleged gunman's family reportedly held conservative views, his mother told authorities he had recently turned politically left.
After backlash, the network reinstated the late night show host Monday, with his return set for Tuesday.
Sinclair previously demanded an apology from Kimmel and a donation to Turning Point USA, the conservative group led by Kirk, or else affiliates wouldn't air the show. Sinclair has long been known for requiring stations such as Seattle-based KOMO to air right-leaning news stories and commentaries.
"Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming," Sinclair said in a Monday post on X. "Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return."
A spokesperson for Sinclair did not respond to questions about the decision or what news programming will air. KOMO's news director, Mark Neerman, declined to comment when reached Monday by The Seattle Times.
Sinclair also owns and operates an ABC affiliate in Portland, among over two dozen other stations across the United States.
A spokesperson for The Walt Disney Company, ABC's owner, said the decision to sideline Kimmel was "to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country," The New York Times reported.
However, after conversations with Kimmel, Disney executives decided to put the show back on the air.
Disney also faced intense backlash for the suspension. On Saturday, at least 100 people gathered outside KOMO's newsroom in Seattle to protest taking Kimmel off the air.
The aftermath of Kirk’s death at a campus speaking event in Orem, Utah, has sparked free speech debates. Many Republican lawmakers and activists want consequences for those who criticize Kirk and his political stances. Kimmel's suspension also highlighted the First Amendment vulnerabilities within public media, according to free speech advocates. Unlike print or digital outlets, TV and radio stations operate on federally regulated airspace.
Sinclair's Vice Chairman Jason Smith previously called for the Federal Communications Commission to take "immediate regulatory action to address control held over local broadcasters by the big national networks."
Like Sinclair, Nexstar Media Group condemned Kimmel’s comments on Sept. 17 and refused to air his show on its affiliate stations, before the suspension was announced. Nexstar is in the midst buying its competitor TEGNA, subject to approval from the FCC.
A spokesperson for Nexstar was not immediately available for comment on whether it will also preempt Tuesday's airing of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
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