Jimmy Kimmel, one of the most important personalities on US television, has been taken off the air indefinitely after comments he made on his late-night show.

The US television network ABC, owned by Disney, announced the decision on Wednesday regarding the late-night host and comedian triggering a cascade of reactions across the country.

Earlier this week, Kimmel said during his show Jimmy Kimmel Live! that President Donald Trump's supporters were trying to “score political points” by killing right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

Responding to a question about the host and free speech, Trump said at a news conference Thursday, “Jimmy Kimmel was fired for his low ratings. He was fired for lack of talent.”

President Trump added that Kimmel should have been suspended “a long time ago” and that the host “said something horrible about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk,” without specifying what he meant.

Democratic Representative Robert Garcia announced that he is launching an investigation into ABC, the Trump administration, and Sinclair Broadcast Group following Kimmel’s suspension.

Garcia, the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said the suspension is part of “efforts to censor opposition to the president.”

“We will not remain silent while our freedoms are threatened by plots and corruption. Any accomplice will have to answer to us,” said Garcia, while other opposition politicians called Kimmel’s departure an attack on freedom of expression.

The suspension of the program came just hours after the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, threatened to take action against Disney and ABC for Kimmel’s statements.

“We can do it by fair means or foul,” Carr warned.

What exactly did Jimmy Kimmel say?

The comedian made the comments Monday during his regular late-night show while discussing the political reaction to the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

“The MAGA gang is desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of their own and doing everything they can to capitalize on it politically,” Kimmel said in his stand-up comedy.

MAGA stands for Make America Great Again, and many of the US president’s supporters often wear hats and T-shirts with the slogan.

The late-night host also noted that flags were flying at half-staff in Kirk’s honor, which drew some criticism at the time, and mocked President Trump’s reaction to the death. activist.

“This is not how an adult grieves the death of someone they consider a friend. This is how a 4-year-old grieves the death of a goldfish,” Kimmel said after showing a video in which Trump changed the subject when asked about Kirk’s death.

The day Kirk was shot, Kimmel posted a message on Instagram condemning the attack and sending a warm greeting to the 31-year-old activist’s family.

Who is Jimmy Kimmel?

James Christian Kimmel is one of the most prominent talk show personalities in the United States.

He was hosting his show Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2003 and has served as the master of ceremonies for the Oscars on four occasions.

Raised in a family of Italian immigrants from Ischia, his maternal grandparents emigrated from Italy to the United States in 1883 due to an earthquake on the island, marking a new history for the family.

Kimmel was born on November 13, 1967, in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Las Vegas.

Inspired by the voices of radio, Kimmel began interning at local radio stations at age 16, where he was known for his irreverent humor.

It was precisely this talent that led him to develop a radio and then television career.

After winning an Emmy for Win Ben Stein's Mone' and becoming a household name with The Man Show, ABC offered him a late-night spot in 2003 to host the well-known Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Kimmel was known for his interviews with famous people and his satirical humor. Some have described him as a "TV asshole," a nickname he doesn't mind.

His popularity has grown over the years, as has his critical stance against the current administration.

Kimmel obtained Italian citizenship in 2018, citing his deep dissatisfaction with the policies of the first Trump administration.

The host has become known for his stand-up comedy routines, celebrity interviews, and viral comedy segments, as well as his witty digs at the president.

His current contract with ABC expires in less than a year, raising questions about whether he will extend his run or leave the network.

Nighttime viewership, like much of traditional television, has been declining as viewers migrate to streaming platforms and social media.

According to Nielsen, an American media audience measurement company, Jimmy Kimmel Live! drew an average of 1.57 million viewers per episode during the broadcast season that ended in May.

Kimmel isn’t the only late-night host to struggle.

In July, rival network CBS announced it was ending The Late Show With Stephen Colbert after 11 seasons.

Network executives said the decision was “completely unrelated to the show’s performance, content, or any other issues at Paramount.”

At the time, Trump said, “I love that they fired Colbert. His talent was less than his ratings.”

Colbert, a host and comedian who routinely made anti-Trump jokes in his stand-up comedy routines, lashed out at the network and its parent company for the decision.

“This is an attack on free speech.”

News of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension sparked a wave of reactions across the United States.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released a statement signed by other House leaders denouncing the incident with Kimmel as “an abuse of power.”

Former President Barack Obama also said on X that “after years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a dangerous new level by routinely threatening regulatory action against the media unless they silence or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.”

He added: “This is precisely the kind of government coercion the First Amendment was designed to prevent,” referring to the amendment to the U.S. Constitution that guarantees freedom of expression.

The office of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has emerged as one of the most vocal opponents of Trump among Democrats, criticized ABC’s decision,saying it is “corrupt, despicable, and cowardly behavior” and “a coordinated effort to control the media.” On his personal account, the governor added: “Buying and controlling media platforms. Firing commentators. Canceling shows. These are not coincidences. This is a coordinated act. And it is dangerous. The GOP does not believe in free speech. They are censoring you in real time.” Meanwhile, Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman, who represents the Californian city of Burbank, home to a significant portion of the US television industry, said in a message on Bluesky that “the full power of the federal government, including the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), is being used to silence all voices except MAGA.” Meanwhile, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker wrote on X that “a free and democratic society cannot silence comedians because the president doesn’t like what they say.” they say.”

“This is an attack on free speech and it cannot be allowed to continue.”

“Sick behavior”

On Wednesday, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said on a podcast that Kimmel’s comments displayed “the sickest behavior possible” and urged Disney to take action.

“[The television networks] have a license from us, and therefore they have an obligation to operate in the public interest,” said Carr, a Trump appointee.

“We can do it by fair means or foul. These companies can find ways to change their behavior, to take action, frankly, against Kimmel, or, you know, the FCC will have more work to do,” Carr said on The Benny Show podcast.

Carr said an apology from Kimmel would be a “very reasonable minimum step.”

ABC’s announcement came just after one of the largest television network owners in the United States, Nexstar Media, said it would not air Jimmy Kimmel Live! “for the foreseeable future, starting with tonight’s show.”