🔗 Share this article

Upon stating that it would pull Jimmy Kimmel’s show, TV station operator Nexstar Communications Group described the host’s statements about Charlie Kirk’s tragic end as “offensive and insensitive” amid a pivotal moment in national political dialogue.

Followers of Donald Trump praised the action, with the top White House aide labeling it an instance of “culture of consequences”.

But what exactly did Jimmy Kimmel state that upset the Trump supporters?

In his Monday evening monologue, Kimmel hinted that Kirk’s accused killer, Tyler Robinson, could have been a conservative sympathizer.

“Maga supporters are frantically attempting to portray this individual who killed Charlie Kirk as anything but one of their own, all while capitalizing on the tragedy,” Kimmel remarked.

This particular statement is believed to have upset Maga followers and officials most of all.

During a discussion on Wednesday, the administration-selected head of the US media regulator stated it looked like a “deliberate strategy to deceive the American public.”

Brendan Carr continued to describe Kimmel’s words as an attempt to “support a narrative that the shooter was in some way influenced by conservative or pro-Trump beliefs.”

Carr also cautioned that if steps were not enforced against Kimmel, there would be “additional work for the FCC in the future.”

“It’s long past the time that stations declare, ‘We’re not gonna run Kimmel anymore over the possibility of sanctions or license revocation from the FCC,’” Carr stated.

Democratic senator Ed Markey criticized the development as “active censorship”.

“The FCC chair targets ABC and Disney over Kimmel’s comments. Not long after, he’s off air. It’s dangerous and a breach of rights. The message to every media company is clear: Adopt the MAGA line or the Federal Censorship Commission will target you,” Markey stated.

Jimmy Kimmel further commented on the backlash to Kirk’s killing on his next programme, saying that “many in Maga-land are making efforts to benefit from the murder of Charlie Kirk”.

Referencing second-in-command JD Vance’s comment while hosting Kirk’s podcast, Kimmel said that “Trump and his allies are making an effort to stoke tensions, so they can I guess attack people on the liberal wing.”

Insiders indicate that Kimmel was preparing to respond to the reaction on that evening’s show and clarify how his words had been taken out of context. He was reportedly not expecting to issue an apology for them.