Walt Disney executives will meet with suspended talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel to determine the fate of his long-running late-night programme, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The discussions will explore whether there is a path for Jimmy Kimmel Live! to return to air following ABC’s suspension of the show. Disney’s network pulled the plug on Wednesday under pressure from the Federal Communications Commission and local affiliates after Kimmel’s pointed remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In his September 15 monologue, Kimmel criticised Republicans for exploiting the tragedy. “The MAGA gang (is) desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” he said.
The comments sparked backlash. FCC chairman Brendan Carr accused Kimmel of trying to mislead the public, noting that 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, charged in Kirk’s death, had grown up in a conservative household but later embraced “leftist ideology.”
President Donald Trump dismissed Kimmel as irrelevant. “He was fired for lack of talent,” Trump said during a press conference in Britain.
TV NETWORKS AGAINST HIM SHOULD LOSE LICENCE, SAYS TRUMP
Later, while returning to the US aboard Air Force One, Donald Trump suggested some TV networks should have their licences “taken away”, as he backed America’s broadcast regulator after the suspension of ABC host Jimmy Kimmel.
“I have read someplace that the networks were 97 per cent against me, again, 97 per cent negative, and yet I won and easily, all seven swing states (in last year’s election),” the president said.
“They give me only bad publicity, press. I mean, they’re getting a licence. I would think maybe their licence should be taken away.”
ABC, which has carried Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2003, suspended the host shortly after Nexstar Communications, which owns 28 ABC affiliates, said it would not air the programme due to what it called offensive and insensitive remarks.
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With inputs from agencies