JIMMY KIMMEL BLOCKED FROM AIRING UNLESS HE APOLOGIZES AND PAYS CHARLIE KIRK’S FAMILY

Just as Disney confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel Live would return to air on September 23, Sinclair Broadcasting, the nation’s largest group of ABC affiliates, stepped in with a hard stop.

According to reports, Sinclair is refusing to air the show unless Jimmy Kimmel issues a public apology to Charlie Kirk’s family and makes a “meaningful personal donation” to them and to Kirk’s nonprofit, Turning Point USA.

This development comes six days after ABC originally pulled the show from the air over comments Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed on September 10.

Sinclair’s move means that even with Disney’s green light, many local stations under their control will be “preempting” the late-night show until conditions are met. The controversy has sparked intense debate around censorship, accountability, and where networks draw the line

Media conglomerate Sinclair will replace the Friday timeslot of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” with a Charlie Kirk tribute special on its ABC affiliate stations — and is offering the special to all other ABC stations across the country.

In addition, the company is demanding that Kimmel apologize to Kirk’s family and send “a meaningful personal donation” to them as well as Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded that advocates for conservative politics in high schools and colleges. Sinclair, one of the U.S.’s large TV station owners, has long had a reputation for having a politically conservative tilt.

Sinclair’s announcement came after the company and Nexstar Media Group, another major ABC affiliate owner, both pulled the late night show from its ABC stations in response to Kimmel’s recent comments about Kirk’s killing. Shortly after those decisions, ABC suspended production on the show indefinitely.

“Mr. Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country,” Sinclair vice chairman Jason Smith said in a statement. “We believe broadcasters have a responsibility to educate and elevate respectful, constructive dialogue in our communities. We appreciate FCC Chairman Carr’s remarks today and 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.”

Sinclair has vowed to “not lift the suspension of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ on our stations until formal discussions are held with ABC regarding the network’s commitment to professionalism and accountability,” the company said in a press release. Even if ABC opts to restart production on the series, “Sinclair intends not to return ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ to our air until we are confident that appropriate steps have been taken to uphold the standards expected of a national broadcast platform.”

Last month, the company announced a “comprehensive strategic review” for its broadcast business, including potential sales and acquisitions. Any deal Sinclair engages in that would involve the transfer of broadcast licenses would be subject to FCC review and approval.