Trump supporters vent their fury over Jimmy Kimmel return: ‘This cannot stand’
Kimmel was suspended for six days, sparking outrage across Hollywood.
As Jimmy Kimmel gears up for his highly anticipated return to the screen, outrage is bubbling away among Republicans.
It was confirmed yesterday that, six days after being taken off air ‘indefinitely’, the talk show legend would be reinstated, his suspension having sparked outrage across Hollywood.
Kimmel, 57, was originally removed from air following comments he made about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The 31-year-old controversial media personality was killed in a ‘political assassination’ during a Q&A at Utah Valley University on September 10.
In his own monologue on September 15, Kimmel, who began hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2003, said that the ‘MAGA gang’ was ‘desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them’ and trying to ‘score political points from it’.
Then, last night, after the likes of Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks, and Ben Affleck publicly condemned the suspension as a violation of ‘free speech’, ABC announced Kimmel would be back on Tuesday.
Consequently, supporters of Kirk and US President Donald Trump, of whom Kirk was a known ally, have slammed the decision.
The chat show legend was reinstated six days after being taken off air (Picture: Randy Holmes/Disney via Getty Images) Kimmel was suspended ‘indefinitely’ after remarks about the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk (Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)Andrew Kolvet, an executive producer of The Charlie Kirk Show, wrote on X: ‘Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmel back on the air is not surprising, but it’s their mistake to make.’
‘Nexstar and Sinclair do not have to make the same choice’, he added, referring to the two station groups that represent about 25% of national TV audiences in the States and who have decided not to broadcast Kimmel’s return.
In their statement, Nexstar, which operates 28 ABC-affiliated stations, said: ‘We made a decision last week to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! following what ABC referred to as Mr. Kimmel’s “ill-timed and insensitive” comments at a critical time in our national discourse.
‘We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve.
‘In the meantime, we note that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be available nationwide on multiple Disney-owned streaming products, while our stations will focus on continuing to produce local news and other programming relevant to their respective markets.’
Elsewhere, conservative commentator Auron MacIntyre implored his 230,000+ strong following to contact affiliates and sponsors in a pressure campaign.
MAGA supporters are furious that Kimmel will be back (Picture: Reuters)
