Despite ABC revoking Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, Nexstar and Sinclair have refused to air his show over concerns of “insensitivity” following his remarks about the MAGA movement.
A day after ABC lifted the suspension order on Jimmy Kimmel’s show, several local TV stations chose not to broadcast the program, citing its insensitivity. According to the BBC, Nexstar and Sinclair—which together operate dozens of ABC-affiliated stations—announced they would continue to replace the show with regular programming on Tuesday.
Sinclair’s vice-chairman, Jason Smith, stated, “Mr. Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country.”
The late-night talk show was abruptly pulled last week after Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr and affiliate networks threatened ABC in response to Kimmel’s comments during a monologue about the MAGA movement’s reaction to Charlie Kirk’s assassination attempt.
This decision sparked a debate between supporters of former President Donald Trump’s administration and advocates of Kimmel regarding government interference and freedom of speech.
On Monday, over 400 artists—including Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and Jennifer Aniston—signed an open letter organized by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to express their support for Kimmel, CNN reported.
Following this, a spokesperson for the Walt Disney Company, ABC’s parent company, told CNN, “We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”
https://www.news18.com/world/tv-stations-refuse-to-air-insensitive-kimmels-show-despite-abc-lifting-suspension-ws-l-9592556.html
