“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.” The line landed at the center of a national scramble this week after multiple station groups moved to stop airing the program, and ABC suspended the show beginning Sept 17, 2025. Local owners cited community standards; regulators signaled possible enforcement. This isn’t just a late-night spat – it threatens advertiser dollars, affiliate leverage and free-speech arguments. Which side will win the next round of pressure and legal fights?
What you need to know about the monologue that pulled Kimmel off air
- Nexstar pulled the show on Sept 17, 2025, cutting huge local reach.
- Brendan Carr threatened FCC action, accelerating ABC’s suspension decision.
- Advertisers earned $76.6M from Kimmel in 2024; revenue now uncertain.
- Hundreds of celebrities joined ACLU protests, framing the move as censorship.
Why a four-word line sparked a nationwide broadcast decision in 2025
The quoted line was short, punchy and instantly viral – and that made it fuel for station owners, regulators and pundits. Within 48 hours of the monologue, two major station groups announced pre-emption plans and ABC said it would stop running the program indefinitely. The result: a fast-moving chain reaction where corporate risk calculations outran editorial deliberation.
Small phrase, big consequence.
ABC is indefinitely suspending Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show from airing after his comments about Charlie Kirk.
He said — “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them… pic.twitter.com/bW6APKqNpl
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 17, 2025
How will stations and regulators respond over the next 30 days?
Reactions split predictably but sharply: conservative owners and lawmakers hailed the pull as necessary accountability, while civil-liberties groups condemned it as chilling. The move put the FCC chair’s power in plain view and forced local broadcasters to weigh community backlash versus corporate deals. Celebrities and journalists rallied – with 400 named stars joining a public protest – arguing the suspension threatened editorial independence. Some advertisers quietly asked for contingency plans; others publicly paused buys. What will matter more: public pressure or regulatory teeth?
NEWS: ABC Pulls ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Indefinitely After Host’s Charlie Kirk Comments
Disney’s ABC said it would take Jimmy Kimmel‘s popular late-night show off its schedule “indefinitely” after one of the biggest owners of TV stations in the U.S., Nexstar Media, said it would… pic.twitter.com/uu6Zy6glzG
— Benjamin Ryan (@benryanwriter) September 17, 2025
The numbers that show how the suspension hits ad revenue in 2025
| KPI | Value + Unit | Change/Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliates pulled | 60 stations | Major reduction in national reach |
| 2024 ad revenue from show | $76.6M | Advertiser risk, revenue pressure |
| Nexstar pending deal size | $6.2B | Regulatory leverage in merger review |
Who said the line and why it matters to late night TV owners
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,” the speaker said. The line came from Jimmy Kimmel, host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” – a high-profile late-night figure whose monologues routinely drive social conversation and ad buys. That status is precisely why station owners, advertisers and the FCC treated the comment as high-stakes: removing a marquee show instantly reverberates through linear ratings and local ad markets.
What this split means for late night and free speech in 2025?
Expect more conservative owners to press programming limits and for networks to triage risk in real time. Affiliates will bargain harder over content decisions, and advertisers will demand clear policies to avoid rapid, public boycotts. Could late night become a safer, less political zone – or will hosts double down on provocation knowing controversy drives engagement? Which outcome would you prefer for the shows you watch?
Sources
- https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/nexstar-jimmy-kimmel-abc-charlie-kirk-1236522584/
- https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/sitroom/date/2025-09-18/segment/04
- https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5545680
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Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.