On Friday, September 19, 2025, several ABC affiliate stations, including Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group, will preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! to air a special tribute titled In Remembrance of Charlie Kirk. This programming change follows the indefinite suspension of the late-night talk show by ABC, which was prompted by host Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial remarks regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Background of the Controversy

The controversy began when Kimmel, during his monologue on Monday, September 15, accused conservatives of attempting to exploit the murder of Charlie Kirk for political gain. He specifically criticized efforts to portray the alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson, as having left-wing affiliations, despite prosecutors’ assertions of Robinson’s ties to the MAGA movement. Continues…