"Jimmy Kimmel Live will be indefinitely pre-empted," declared a spokesperson for the Disney-owned network in a statement. Earlier in the week, Kimmel had asserted on his show that the "MAGA gang" was attempting to score political points off the killing of Kirk. Emerging from the television studio in Los Angeles shortly after the announcement, Kimmel declined to comment to the BBC.
Celebrating the news, President Donald Trump hailed it as "great news for America." In his Monday night monologue, Kimmel had stated, "The MAGA Gang is desperately trying to portray this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything but one of their own, doing everything they can to exploit the tragedy for political gain."
The term "MAGA," short for Trump's enduring campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again," is emblazoned on many caps and shirts worn by the US president's supporters. The late-night host also took aim at flags being flown at half-mast in honor of Kirk and ridiculed President Trump's reaction to the shooting. "This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish," said Kimmel, who has frequently lampooned Trump.
On the day Kirk was shot, Kimmel took to Instagram to condemn the attack and send "love" to the 31-year-old activist's family. A 22-year-old suspect has since appeared in court, charged with aggravated murder.
Shortly after ABC announced Kimmel's suspension, President Trump took to social media, writing, "The ratings-challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done."
After being taken off the air, Kimmel left the show's studio on Hollywood Boulevard, donning a flannel shirt and cap, and rode away in a car without a word. Fans of the show, who had been lining up to join the live audience, expressed their disappointment at the cancellation.
Janna Blackwell, vacationing from Virginia, told the BBC, "You know, this is getting ridiculous and stupid. Freedom of speech. He shared his opinion and is being cancelled. To me, that is bizarre."
A small protest also erupted outside the studio, with a sign declaring, "Trump must go now."
Some prominent Hollywood figures spoke out against Kimmel's suspension, with actor Ben Stiller sharing the news on X and commenting, "This isn't right." Actress Jamie Lee Curtis posted an Instagram story featuring one of Kimmel's own quotes from earlier in the year: "I don't believe anybody should be cancelled, I really don't," he said in April.
Other figures showing their support included singer John Legend and actor Josh Gad, while actress Alison Brie described the news as "unreal and very scary."
The ABC announcement came just after Nexstar Media, one of the largest owners of TV stations in the US, said it would not air Jimmy Kimmel Live! "for the foreseeable future, beginning with tonight's show." Nexstar cited the comedian's remarks about Kirk as "offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse."
"[We] do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located," said Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar's broadcasting division.
The chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, thanked Nexstar "for doing the right thing" and expressed hope that other broadcasters would follow suit. Nexstar is currently seeking FCC approval for its planned $6.2 billion (£4.5 billion) merger with Tegna.
Sinclair, the largest ABC affiliate group in the US, followed suit, announcing it would air a special remembrance program dedicated to Kirk this Friday during the original time slot for Kimmel's show.
FCC head Carr, a Trump appointee, had earlier criticized Kimmel's monologue. He told the Benny Show, a conservative podcast, that the ABC host had exhibited "the sickest conduct possible" and urged Disney to take action.
"[Broadcasters] have a license granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with an obligation to operate in the public interest," Carr noted, adding that an apology from Kimmel would be a "very reasonable, minimal step."
However, Anna Gomez, the only Democratic member of the FCC, criticized Carr's remarks. She posted on X that "an inexcusable act of political violence by one disturbed individual must never be exploited as justification for broader censorship or control."
The Writers Guild of America (WGA), Hollywood's labor union, condemned the decision to take Kimmel off the air as a violation of constitutional free speech rights. "Shame on those in government who forget this founding truth," it said in a statement.
Sag-Aftra, another union, described the move as "the type of suppression and retaliation that endangers everyone's freedoms."
A person familiar with Kimmel's situation told CNBC that the host had not been fired, adding that network bosses intended to speak with the comedian about what he should say when he returns to the air.
Kimmel is the latest late-night host to see his program run into issues as more viewers turn to streaming over traditional network viewing. In July, rival network CBS announced it would end The Late Show With Stephen Colbert next year after 11 seasons.
Network executives claimed the move was "not related in any way to the show's performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount." However, Colbert lashed out at the network and its parent company over the decision, accusing CBS of leaking financial figures to the press and alluding to a $16 million (£13.5 million) settlement with Trump after he sued the network over an interview its 60 Minutes program did last year with former Vice-President Kamala Harris.
That payout came several months after the Disney-owned ABC agreed to pay $15 million (£12 million) to Trump to settle a defamation lawsuit after its star anchor George Stephanopoulos falsely and repeatedly claimed during an interview that the president had been found "liable for rape." A jury in a civil case had determined Trump was liable for "sexual abuse," which has a specific definition under New York law.
