Sinclair Demands Accountability as It Bans Kimmel, Backs Kirk Tribute

Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest ABC affiliate group in the United States, has announced it will replace “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” with a one-hour tribute to Charlie Kirk in its stations’ Friday timeslot. The decision follows ABC’s indefinite suspension of Kimmel’s show after the comedian made remarks suggesting that MAGA supporters were attempting to exploit the assassination of Kirk, a conservative commentator and founder of Turning Point USA, as a political opportunity. Sinclair and Nexstar, another major ABC affiliate owner, both pulled Kimmel’s show from their stations in response to his comments.

Sinclair’s action extends beyond the programming change. The company has publicly demanded that Kimmel issue a personal apology to Kirk’s family and make a “meaningful personal donation” to both the Kirk family and Turning Point USA. The company also called for formal discussions with ABC regarding the network’s “commitment to professionalism and accountability” before Kimmel’s show can return to its stations. “Mr. Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country,” said Sinclair Vice Chairman Jason Smith in a statement.

The decision to replace Kimmel’s show with a tribute reflects Sinclair’s broader stance on media responsibility and public interest. Sinclair emphasized its belief that broadcasters have a duty to foster respectful and constructive dialogue, particularly during times of national significance. The tribute, which will air on all Sinclair stations this weekend and be offered to other ABC affiliates, serves as a direct response to Kimmel’s remarks and the broader controversy surrounding the handling of the Kirk case.

Sinclair also praised FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for his public criticism of Kimmel’s comments and emphasized the need for regulatory action to address the influence of national networks over local broadcasting. “This incident highlights the critical need for the FCC to take immediate regulatory action to address control held over local broadcasters by the big national networks,” Smith added. Carr had previously warned that Kimmel’s remarks, which were based on incomplete and evolving information at the time, risked misleading the public and failing in their public interest obligations.

ABC, which has aired Kimmel’s show since 2003, moved swiftly to suspend the program after Nexstar and Sinclair took action. Kimmel had referenced the assassination of Kirk during his Monday and Tuesday monologues, describing how some right-wing figures were attempting to manipulate the incident for political gain. However, subsequent revelations suggested that the shooter’s motivations were more personal than political, challenging the narrative Kimmel had presented. Despite this, the backlash to Kimmel’s comments led to significant pressure from conservative figures, with President Donald Trump applauding the suspension on Truth Social.

Sinclair’s decision underscores the ongoing tension between free speech, media responsibility, and the influence of national networks over local broadcasting. The company has made it clear that it will not lift the suspension of Kimmel’s show until it is satisfied that ABC has taken sufficient steps to uphold the standards expected of a national broadcast platform. In its statement, Sinclair warned that “regardless of ABC’s plans for the future of the program,” it does not plan to air “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” again until it is confident that “appropriate steps have been taken to uphold the standards expected of a national broadcast platform”.