Sinclair Demands Jimmy Kimmel Issue Apology & Donation to Kirk Family; Will Air Charlie Kirk Remembrance in His Timeslot

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Sinclair Broadcast Group, a major owner of ABC stations, believes ABC’s decision to remove Jimmy Kimmel from its programming isn’t enough. The company has already stopped airing *Jimmy Kimmel Live* and is demanding Kimmel apologize and donate money to the family of Charlie Kirk.

Sinclair, Inc. (@WeAreSinclair) issued a statement criticizing the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel and urging the FCC and ABC to do more. They also announced that their ABC stations will broadcast a special program honoring Charlie Kirk during Kimmel’s usual Friday timeslot.

The Statement from Sinclair

Sinclair expressed its disapproval of recent statements made by Jimmy Kimmel regarding Charlie Kirk. As a result, the company announced it would immediately stop airing *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* indefinitely, starting tonight. Following conversations with ABC, the network then halted production of the show.

Sinclair Says Kimmel Suspension is Not Enough, Calls on FCC and ABC to Take Additional Action

Sinclair’s local ABC stations will broadcast a special program honoring Charlie Kirk during the same time slot as Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Friday.

Sinclair, the nation’s largest ABC affiliate group, objects to recent…

— Sinclair, Inc. (@WeAreSinclair) September 18, 2025

Vice Chairman Jason Smith stated that Jimmy Kimmel’s comments were inappropriate and hurtful, especially given the current national climate. He emphasized that broadcasters should aim to inform and encourage respectful conversations within their communities. Smith applauded FCC Chairman Carr’s response and argued that the FCC needs to quickly address the significant control large national networks have over local stations.

Sinclair is airing a special program this Friday to honor Charlie Kirk, and it will take the place of Jimmy Kimmel’s show. The program will also be shown again on all Sinclair stations over the weekend, and Sinclair is making it available to ABC stations across the country.

Will Jimmy Kimmel Issue an Apology?

Sinclair says it won’t resume broadcasting *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* on its stations until ABC agrees to discuss maintaining professional standards and taking responsibility for any issues.

Sinclair is requesting that Jimmy Kimmel publicly apologize to the Kirk family and also make a personal donation to both the Kirk family and Turning Point USA.

Sinclair stated they won’t air *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* again until they’re sure ABC has taken steps to meet the standards for a national broadcast. This decision is independent of any future plans ABC may have for the show.

Sources like Deadline report that Jimmy Kimmel has been strongly opposed to apologizing for his comments.

According to sources who spoke with *Deadline*, Jimmy Kimmel refused to apologize for his comments and planned to shift the attention to President Trump’s most dedicated followers.

Nexstar Media Group stopped airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! and announced they wouldn’t be showing it again anytime soon. ABC later confirmed the show was canceled across their stations with no set return date.

Kimmel’s Original Remarks

The backlash stemmed from Kimmel’s September 15th monologue.

He incorrectly stated that supporters of Trump were actively trying to distance themselves from the person who attacked Charlie Kirk, and were attempting to use the situation for political gain.

That claim is completely untrue. The person accused of attacking Charlie Kirk had anti-fascist messages written on his ammunition and lived with his partner, who was a man reportedly in the process of transitioning to a woman.

Jimmy Kimmel criticized President Trump’s reaction, comparing it to the way a young child would grieve the loss of a pet goldfish, rather than how an adult would respond to the death of a friend.

Does a Jimmy Kimmel Apology Come Next?

It’s currently unknown if Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be back on the air. Several Nexstar and Sinclair stations are choosing to air other programming instead, including a special honoring Charlie Kirk, which creates uncertainty about the show’s future.

Jimmy Kimmel seems unwilling to apologize, but will he change his mind if it means getting his late-night show back? Will he address the Kirk family if that’s what it takes?

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2025-09-18 20:31