Sinclair ABC Stations Won’t Air ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ for Now, Will ‘Evaluate Potential Return’

Variety
Variety
4M ago
Sinclair will replace 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' with news programming across its ABC stations, pending negotiations for the show's return.
Sinclair ABC Stations Won’t Air ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ for Now, Will ‘Evaluate Potential Return’
A What happened
Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will preempt 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' across its ABC affiliate stations, substituting it with news programming. This decision comes amid ongoing negotiations with ABC about the show's potential return after Disney suspended production due to Kimmel's comments regarding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Disney's decision to pause the show was made to avoid further controversy during a sensitive time. Despite the suspension, many in the entertainment industry, including notable figures like Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, have supported Kimmel, signing an open letter against Disney's actions. Disney CEO Bob Iger has approved Kimmel's return, but it remains uncertain if Kimmel will need to apologize for his remarks. Sinclair had initially planned to air a special news report on Kirk during Kimmel's time slot but opted for an ABC game show instead.

Key insights

  • 1

    Controversial Comments: Kimmel's remarks about Charlie Kirk sparked significant backlash.

  • 2

    Industry Support: Over 400 stars signed a letter supporting Kimmel's return.

  • 3

    Negotiation Status: Ongoing discussions between Sinclair and ABC regarding Kimmel's future.

Takeaways

The future of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' remains uncertain as negotiations continue.

Topics

Entertainment Movies & TV Celebrities

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