Kimmel’s Show Shelved Indefinitely Over Charlie Kirk Comment: Free Speech or Censorship?

Jimmy Kimmel’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! got yanked indefinitely by ABC after his Monday monologue, and the internet’s ablaze with takes hotter than Sydney Sweeney. The spark that set this fire? Kimmel’s attempt at political commentary, riffing on President Trump’s response to the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point USA founder, who was gunned down on September 10 at Utah Valley University by a 22-year-old shooter. Kirk wasn’t some bomb-throwing provocateur, as the media loves to paint conservatives. No, Charlie was a calm, rational voice, grounded in Biblical principles, working to change hearts and minds through open dialogue and unapologetic defense of free speech. His death was a gut-punch to anyone who values honest debate, and it deserved better than being fodder for late-night snark.

Kimmel’s bit wasn’t about Kirk’s death itself—let’s be crystal here. He took a dig at Trump, poking at a viral clip where the president sidesteps a reporter’s question about Kirk with an awkward off-ramp to discussing the construction of the White House ballroom. Classic Trump: not exactly Shakespeare, emotions buttoned up unless he’s tearing into a rival. There’s footage out there of Trump speaking warmly about Charlie, calling him a friend and a warrior for the cause. Me? I’d wager Trump genuinely cared for Kirk and was just dodging the media’s tragedy circus, redirecting to safer ground. Maybe I’m giving him too much credit—nobody’s got a window into his head—but I’ll offer the benefit of the doubt. Kimmel? Never would. That’s his brand: zero grace for anyone outside his bubble.

Was the monologue in bad taste? Sure. It was poorly conceived, leaning into cheap jabs about the “MAGA gang” and politicizing Kirk’s death when, turns out, the shooter, Tyler Robinson, was steeped in far-left ideology, not some right-wing phantom as Kimmel implied. But let’s not blow this out of proportion—Kimmel’s comments weren’t grotesque or “sick,” as FCC chair Brendan Carr thundered, threatening “action” against ABC. They were just… Kimmel. Snarky, one-sided, and blind to nuance, like most of his political takes these days. Legitimate speech, sure, but the kind that makes you wince more than rage. If Kimmel had actually mocked Kirk’s murder itself, I’d back ABC canning him in a heartbeat—not for his politics, but because that’d cross a line of basic human decency, and a network’s within its rights to say, “We don’t want to be tied to someone who stoops that low.” But that’s not what happened here. It was a dig at Trump’s reaction, not a spit on Kirk’s grave.

Still, the fallout’s been swift and brutal. ABC affiliates like Nexstar bailed, with Andrew Alford, President of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, stating, “Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located.” That’s a stand for decency and brand representation, and I’m fully on board. Trump’s Truth Social lit up with jabs at Kimmel’s “talent” (or lack thereof), and word is Kimmel’s “f*@%ing livid,” huddling with execs to save his slot. The network’s move to shelve the show indefinitely feels like a knee-jerk, and—call it a hunch—I wouldn’t be shocked if ABC’s been itching for an exit strategy for a while. Kimmel’s been a ratings liability, and this could be the convenient excuse they’ve been waiting for.

I’m no Kimmel fan—let’s get that straight. The guy’s turned late-night, once a neutral zone for all Americans, into a partisan cudgel. He admitted to losing half his audience over his Trump obsession, shrugging it off with an “I’m fine with that.” Ratings tanked, and when ABC asked him to ease up, he doubled down, arrogance in full bloom. That’s not comedy; it’s a smug middle finger to anyone who doesn’t nod along with his coastal sermonizing. If ABC wants to fire him, fine—but not for this monologue. Not for one dumb jab that, while poorly timed and in bad taste, falls squarely under free speech, the very principle Charlie Kirk championed every day with his calm, reasoned debates. I’d back ABC axing him if they said, “Jimmy, your divisive shtick’s killing our numbers. We want civility and a show that doesn’t alienate half the country.” That’s a business call, pure and simple. Networks live or die by viewers and ad bucks; if Kimmel’s product—now a political weapon instead of universal entertainment—isn’t selling, they’ve got every right to pivot. He knew the risks when he chose ego over audience.

But the FCC chair’s push for Kimmel’s head? That’s government overreach at its ugliest, the kind of thing we’ve railed against when the Left plays speech cop. We on the Right should know better. We’ve spent years fighting the censorship machine—deplatformings, shadowbans, you name it. We don’t get to cheer when the same tactic’s used against someone we dislike, no matter how much Kimmel’s sanctimonious smirk grates. Free speech isn’t just for our side; it’s for everyone, even the guy who’d never extend us the same courtesy. Charlie Kirk lived that truth, and we honor him by sticking to it, not by clapping when a network or a bureaucrat plays judge and jury.

Hopefully, despite the circumstances, this mess might be the reality check late-night needs. Kimmel may or may not be evil, but he’s definitely partisan and mean-spirited. Maybe ABC will rethink what an 11:35 p.m. slot should be: a place for laughs, not lectures.

Regardless of the outcome, never forget that what we do when our side is in power can be done to us just as easily once we are out. Let’s keep our eyes on the bigger fight—principles over payback. That’s how we keep the flame Kirk carried alive.