‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ Suspended by ABC Over Charlie Kirk Controversy
Update (7:05 p.m. ET): ABC has suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! in the wake of an affiliate owner’s decision to preempt airings of the late-night talk show in the wake of host Jimmy Kimmel’s comments on the death of Charlie Kirk.
In a statement, the network said the show would be, “pre-empted indefinitely.”
The news comes after Nexstar, an affiliate-owning network with dozens of local ABC channels, announced its intention to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! episodes beginning with Wednesday (September 17) night.
Kimmel’s comments were also criticized by Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, who threatened to take action against ABC affiliates over the host’s words, saying on a podcast that it “appears to be an action by Jimmy Kimmel to play into the narrative that this [shooter] was somehow a MAGA or Republican-motivated person. What people don’t understand is that the broadcasters … have a license granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with it an obligation to operate in the public interest. When we see stuff like this, look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct, on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
Original Story (6:37 p.m. ET): Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be disappearing from some audiences’ local stations, effective immediately.
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. announced on Wednesday (September 17) that the company would be preempting the late-night talk show on its ABC affiliate networks in response to host Jimmy Kimmel’s recent comments about the death of Charlie Kirk, “for the foreseeable future, beginning with tonight’s show.”
“Nexstar strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets,” the company revealed in a press release.
In a statement, the company’s president, Andrew Alford, said, “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. Continuing to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve is simply not in the public interest at the current time, and we have made the difficult decision to preempt his show in an effort to let cooler heads prevail as we move toward the resumption of respectful, constructive dialogue.”
Kirk, a prominent conservative activist, was murdered last week while speaking at an open forum event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, as part of his campus tour initiative.
On his Tuesday, September 16 show, Kimmel said, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
Previously, on his September 15 show, Kimmel criticized Donald Trump‘s response to the Kirk, after he fielded a question about Kirk and began talking about his reconstruction of the White House ballroom: “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish, okay?” Kimmel said. “There’s something wrong with him, there really is. I mean, who thinks like that?”
On his September 11 show, Kimmel slammed Trump for failing to call for unity in the wake of Kirk’s death, saying, “With all these terrible things happening, you would think that our President would at least make an attempt to bring us together, but he didn’t. President Obama did. President Biden did. Presidents Bush and Clinton did. President Trump did not. Instead, he blamed Democrats for their rhetoric.”
Kimmel previously addressed the shooting of Kirk on Instagram, writing, “Can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human? On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents, and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.”
Nexstar owns more than 200 stations in 116 markets in the U.S.
ABC affiliate stations that are owned by Nexstar include:
Albany, NY (WTEN)
Augusta, GA (WJBF)
Billings, MT (KSVI)
Binghamton, NY (WIVT/WBGH-CD)
Burlington, VT (WVNY)
Clarksburg/Weston, WV (WBOY)
Dothan, AL (WDHN)
Erie, PA (WJET)
Evansville, IN (WEHT)
Grand Rapids, MI (WOTV)
Harrisburg, PA (WHTM)
Hartford/New Haven, CT (WTNH)
Knoxville, TN (WATE)
Lansing, MI (WLAJ)
Lubbock, TX (KAMC)
Midland/Odessa, TX (KMID)
Nashville, TN (WKRN)
New Orleans, LA (WGNO)
Panama City, FL (WMBB)
Richmond, VA (WRIC)
Rockford, IL (WTVO)
Salt Lake City, UT (KTVX)
Sioux City, IA (KCAU)
Syracuse, NY (WSYR)
Terre Haute, IN (WAWV)
Topeka, KS (KTKA)
Tri-Cities, TN-VA (WJHL)
Utica, NY (WUTR)
Watertown, NY (WWTI)
Wheeling WV-Steubenville, OH (WTRF)
Youngstown, OH (WYTV)
Conversation86 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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O
I\'m not sure what was offensive that Kimmel said. What am I missing? He\'s asking for a president to issue a statement of calm and comfort to the country.
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Absolutely!
tRump was more interested in talking about the renovations of the White House (making it into a House of ill Repute) than the death of his supposed friend!
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I\'m curious, what would you have said differently? Im interested in finding out what you find to be appropriate.. Is implying someone is not a friend to that person, appropriate, when talking about someone who has just lost said friend? I think if we dive further, we will find alot of hypocrisy in your standards.
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Are you serious? This comment is the funniest thing related to this page. Lol. Thank you, we needed actual entertainment for once.
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Can you be more specific how you came to such a summary from Jimmy\'s propaganda?
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Propaganda, really? U may call it that, but when such ignorance n tone deafness from anyone, rears its ugly head, well… Only one thing comes to mind, goebels n his well oiled propaganda machine, n what he did for his boss, stifle n be rid of all the Kimmels, Colberts n the likes of, who don’t fall into line with their beliefs. These very talented n intelligent hosts, who did nothing other than speak the truth n their opinions, that just so happens to be hilarious in their delivery, to the tens of millions worldwide who watch their shows mind u. What happened to the 1st Amend here? I don’t think i’m wrong in saying ur an idiot, bc ur pandering the ego of lunatic who wants nothing more, than to be his idol n rule just as he did. The sad part of this, the implicit studios n executives who do as they’re told. Can’t imagine how many skeletons these ppl have in their closets.
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That\'s not what he said. He said the shooter was maga, trying to distance himself from being a person who could influence people to become shooters. The shooter was not maga.
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O
Wow!
It seems only tRump, his political siccophant followers and faux news are allowed to express their views and opinions, whether it\'s a lie or deemed offensive!
Go figure!?!
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It is the left\'s inability to call out their own lies and offensive, hateful language that has led to them polling in the single digits. It is not the right EVERY DAY calling the left \"fascists\", \"Hitler\", \"NAZIs\", \"deplorables\", \"racists\". The left has a meltdown when people don\'t agree with them on everything from transgenders being able to participate in women\'s sports, to DEI hiring, to not wanting explicit books and gender discussions being part of school curriculums for young children. A 75 year old woman who silently prayed outside an abortion clinic was sent to prison for two years while illegal migrants with a rap sheet an arm long get released to commit more crimes. Take the plank out of your own eye before trying to take the speck out of others. Show some humility -- maybe admit the the left has been part of the problem. Maybe suggest some solutions instead of just the ongoing name calling that is beyond offensive. Calling Trump \"Hitler\" is offensive and demeaning to all those who died under the real NAZI regime.
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Bravo !! Bravo !! One of the best comments on here !! But the left thinks we should enjoy and embrace being called all those Hate names you cited.
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You might as well start watching propaganda TV like they do in China, Russia and North Korea. I couldn\'t find anything offensive about Mr. Kimmel\'s remarks It\'s just another example of Cancel Culture if you disagree with Trump\'s behavior.
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Kimmel IS the propoganda! He flat out lied about the shooter.
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C
What lie did Kimmel say about the shooter?
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That he was maga.
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O
Its funny how Democrats invented cancel culture, but cant deal with it when its applied to them. Not fun, is it?
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The term cancel culture originated during the civil rights movement do your research.
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Maybe but it was tremendously ramped up by the liberal left in the last 20+ years. We saw it. And the left Still try’s. Swallow what you dish out.
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Kimmel is part of the propaganda TV.
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J
Kimmel said nothing ugly about Charlie Kirk.
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The implications were ugly, disrespectful, and dishonest.
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Did you miss the part where Kimmel said no one should be celebrating kirks death and he certainly wouldn\'t.
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He lied and said the shooter was maga. Facts don\'t bear that out.
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G
It is terrible the man was murdered. I feel for his family. No one should be murdered for their belief. That being said the man was a racist, a homophobe, and a misogynist, not Jesus Christ. What happened to free speech.
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What specifically did Kirk say that was racist? He was not a homophobe and in fact, had gay staff members/friends. How was he a misogynist? He married a strong, independent woman. Would encourage people listen to what she said after his assassination. I don\'t know of one woman who accused him of misogyny. Please don\'t act like leftists did not try to take away our freedom of speech. It was the left that wanted people punished for not using someone\'s preferred pronoun -- whether that was in keeping with their religious or personal beliefs. It was the Biden administration who created a \"Disinformation Governance Board\" so they could be the arbiter of what is \"truth\". Thankfully, it was stopped after about 3 weeks b/c of public outcry. It was the left that fomented the Russia hoax for years, that told us the H Biden laptop was a \"Russian information\" campaign (when they knew the FBI already had the laptop in their possession for months). It was the left that \"encouraged\" social media companies to censure or de-platform (New York Post after reporting on the laptop) those who disagreed w/ their narratives. It was the left that told us Pres B was \"sharp as a tack\" when all could see the obvious cognitive decline. It was the left that mandated a vaccine in an Emergency Authorization Use status and told us if we took the vax, we would not get C-19. (Yes, there is a video of Biden saying this). When the right called out the threats to free speech -- crickets.
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Free speech protects you from government retaliation. You are not protected from retaliation from your employers. I’ll also encourage you to listen to Charlie Kirk’s entire debates. Not the pieced together rage bait clips posted out of context to intentionally fuel a narrative and you’ll discover he was none of those. As a mother of a daughter part of the LGBTQ community, I had to lay down my own bias and do the research. I found him to be non-judgmental and welcoming of open, honest dialogue among all walks of life. If we look hard enough, we will always find things that confirm our bias…whether it be racism, bigotry, fascism, or misogyny. If we don’t find it immediately, we will twist it to fit. At the end of the day, that is akin to a mental illness.
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The head of the FCC threatening to pull the network\'s license unless they take action against critics of the administration is, indeed, government retaliation. This from Brendan Carr: \"What people don’t understand is that the broadcasters … have a license granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with it an obligation to operate in the public interest. When we see stuff like this, look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct, on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead\" is such a threat.
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I don\'t think that\'s true. You learned that on liberal TV. Everyone has free speech -- Congress shall make no law limiting free speech. But you don\'t have free speech at work. Your boss can limit your speech. If you say unsavory things at work or make your boss unhappy in anyway or just do bad work, you can be fired.
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Please tell me the issue here! I just don\'t see it! We are in trouble!
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It appears if you don\'t agree with tRump or voice your opinion about him or his \"people\" you\'re threatened with monetary support being withheld!
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And if you oppose the other side you get murdered in front of a crowd and dragged in the media.
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Read the articles about this -- Trump had nothing to do with it! Disney pulled this show. Mainstream media is not reporting on all the facts now known about this case. Certainly the shooter is not a MAGA supporter as suggested by Kimmel. It is this kind of false rhetoric that leads to statements like yours -- where the assumption is that MAGA is responsible for Kirk\'s assassination and Trump is responsible for Jimmy Kimmel being taken off air. A lot of us just want the left\'s disinformation to stop (and I am an independent voter).
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Kimmel flat out lied. He said the shooter had to be maga. He couldn\'t believe that the shooter would be influenced by people like him.
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He really said nothing wrong about Kirk. He called out that creature in the White House for his behavior lol. So dumb. People should stop watching the stations that pulled him. This country is a mess
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You mean the Human Being in the WH. Reducing People to creatures like the Left loves to do is exactly what got Charlie killed by the young man who came from a conservative family but was radicalized to the Left through his relationship with a trans lover . Something the Left fully supports and pushes on American youth. The left wants to reduce opposing people to things so it’s easier to perpetrate violence on people who disagree with them. It got Charlie killed.
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Here we go again. When will it end? I am glad I watch mostly NBC. I guess free speech has gone by the wayside.
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I\'m sure NBC\'s turn will come soon enough. Let\'s hope that SOME network or news outlet, SOMEWHERE will stand up to Diaper Don the Baby Bully.
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Yes, here we go again -- for people who don\'t understand free speech. You don\'t have free speech at work.
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O
He doesn\'t need to be on the air anymore. Late night TV shows used to be fun. Jimmy Kimmel shouldn\'t get involved in politics. Stephen Colbert learned the hard way to stay away from politics, now it\'s Jimmy Kimmel\'s turn.
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In case you didn\'t realize late night talk shows always had an undercurrent of political issues from the 1960-to present day. if people are smart enough to pay attention. Today we have government overreach that if you disagree with Trump, you will pay the price. None of the networks are willing to go against him because of possible financial losses. Kimmel is just another example of collateral damage for stating his opinion.
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Yes but in those days the jokes were directed at particular events and not just a running diatribe of hate for the man in office. Check out Johnny Carson\'s quote when asked why he wasn\'t more vocal on political events. HE had it right. Just google it.
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Mister Carson may have said that he did not want to get involved with politics on The Tonight show but his guest showed the opposite when he had people like Groucho Marx and Hedy Lamar. He could make his opinion without even saying a word and let his guests do it for him You should stream some of the old shows and watch them more carefully.
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Even if there’s some truth in that it pales in comparison to Kimmel, Colbert, Meyers etc. direct unfiltered Hate for conservative people and the duly elected President.
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That\'s fine, as long as he didn\'t say anything to ruin his boss\'s show.
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Since politics has seen fit to try to stick its nose into and control just about every facet of our lives.... there\'s no way to pretend it doesn\'t exist. I spent decades as an adult without worrying about the government; I had faith that the men & women in DC would find the right way to do the right things, and if I disagreed with something or another, it was not a big deal. None of that is true anymore, and many Americans are using their voices to make themselves heard. The \"events of the day\" discussed on late-night talk shows include all this.
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Government overreach is when an administration and their lapdog media gaslights you that you have a fully cognitively competent leader with access to the nuclear codes -- while they run the autopen. Then, when the obvious can no longer be hidden, they all trip over themselves trying to be the first to publish the tell-all about what was REALLY happening behind the scenes. Guess you all have forgotten how the Biden admin had FB, Twitter and other news sources shut down or censure those that disagreed with their narratives. If the general public had not spoken out, we would currently be like the Brits -- who get arrested for humor not deemed acceptable by leftist standards.
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The reason most people believe the way they do is because you get lied to and believe the lies. Kimmel lied. He got disciplined. Not sure yet whether he\'ll be fired. You don\'t have free speech rights at work. If you screw up the boss\'s business, you can get fired.
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FREE SPEECH PEOPLE, so now we are going to be told what we can watch. Grow up, pull up and put on your big girl and boy pants. He is great!
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You can still watch Jimmy Kimmel, just not on that platform.
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He was spreading misinformation. I thought liberals approved of suppressing disinformation. They aimed to set up a GOVERNMENT APPARATUS to do exactly that.
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\'Misinformation\'? Like Krash Patel did, twice? Or maybe Kimmel was simply reacting to the information that was available at the time?
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The Left invented misinformation and polished it and crafted it until they are Masters of it. It brought about the Hate that got Charlie killed.
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You\'re hearing propaganda all the time and believe it.
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B
Didn’t hear what Jimmy said but now we’re living in a police state where we no longer have freedom of speech? So these Late Night hosts are no longer allowed to express themselves like they always have in the past because this administrations tender feelings! It’s like Russia here now! This is wrong! I don’t condone violence it’s not the answer but neither is limiting freedom of speech & expression! Policing our First Amendment rights is very dangerous!
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What happed to normal debate and having your own opinion without violence and constantly tearing down another for a measly joke or laugh? Disrespectful
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G
He was attempting to create a false narrative. One where it directed a conservative who shot Kirk, not a radicalized liberal
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\"radicalized\"?? I think he might have been radicalized, true, but maybe not the way you think....... 🤔
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Killed Charlie for his trans lover an ideology that the left fully supports and pushes on American youth. Yeah he was radicalized by the left. His family was conservative but he wasn’t.
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If they got news from sources other than the echo chamber left-leaning media, they would know what the alleged killer\'s family has said and what the killer himself has said as his rationale for the assassination of Kirk. Nowhere has it been found that he was a MAGA supporter.
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Exactly !! Well said !!
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P
BS,bye Disney
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Giving Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom is like putting the Unabomber on a postage stamp.
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O
Freedom of speech no longer exists in this country! Our forefathers would be disgusted!
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G
He said it without repercussion from the goverment. How people choose to react to that, is their freedom.
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The head of the FCC threatening his network unless he was punished and his network jumping to do so is firmly within the bounds of repercussions from the government. Brendan Carr was speaking with governmental authority when he threatened ABC\'s broadcasting license unless they fell in line.
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B
Disinformation. Hyperbole. If freedom of speech no longer existed, your comment would not be allowed.
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G
No. They would say when did people get so rude and insensitive. Just look at all the ignorant post since kirks death and the ramifications these people are facing for their ignorance.Kimmels whole monologue was whining about Trump and the right, same as every night. Leave politics out of entertainment. I\'d rather watch paint dry rather than Kimmel.
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G
I think he isn’t afraid to tell the truth.There are some people who don’t like the truth being told.What happened to free speech.
We are having all our rights taken away.
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B
Remember free speech? I mean when we all had a right to free speech? This is serious. Really serious.
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G
They were just waiting for an excuse to get Kimmel. He said nothing wrong, the powers that be just wanted to silence him. Our democracy is in trouble. I think Fallon will be next. ABC, return Kimmel to the lineup. I am boycotting ABC until you do.
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G
ABC which I always thought was American Broadcasting Company should change it\'s name to TBC Trump Broadcasting Company.
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C
The women on the view are cowards. Especially Whoopi’s. Maybe it’s about time that she understands this isn’t a game anymore.
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Where are we living now, RUSSIA? Or clearly some other nation with a dictator. I feel quite sure all of these people who are causing this trouble are Republican or are being instructed to take the actions they are doing by some member of Trump\'s staff. There is FREEDOM OF SPEECH, you know. Plus, Late Night Television is all about using the current headlines as foddered for its openings. I don\'t see where he disrespected Charlie Kirk in the least. He was just talking about how certain political parties these days jump on things and spin them their ways. What I want to know is what does the Trump organization, who is dead set against trans-sexual and gay men have to say about Kirk, after they made him a very important figure, to find out he is gay, and his roommate is a gay guy trans-ing into a female. All of which they abhor. HAS ANYONE ASKED HIM TO EXPLAIN THAT?
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Nah more like headed to Communism. See NYC. Hopefully Real Americans will step up and stop it. And speaking of spinning you’re spinning enough here to make quite a few yards of cloth !!
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They only have 30 stations. Does this mean all the other stations will be airing it or not? Did ABC cave to the minority? I hope not.
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You’re the minority
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Trump is a Human being like you and me. I think your implying that he is less than that, by calling him a \"Creature\". STOP talking about people this way.
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B
Hip hip hooray!!!!! Good riddance to the slimeball Kimmel.
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R
I\'m reminded of Bob, Hope and all the jokes he made over the years about different presidents. He was genius.And there was never one word said about his comments.That\'s because the different presidents had thick skin, they were adults and able to accept the criticism and respected the first amendmentI...
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C
Boycott ABC and Disney. People they’re taking our freedom of speech away the first amendment.
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You see how quickly they bankrupt PBS, public broadcasting system.😡
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I am joining the ABC/Disney+/Hulu/Newstar boycott to let these corporate pinheads know we true Americans take our right to freedom of speech and threats to our democracy far more seriously than enjoying their frivolous entertainments.
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G
The only offensive thing he did was lie. He was trying to step away from blame since he has used the same language as the shooter.
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G
Well done ABC !! Kimmel began stirring the pot. At first he started off saying Don’t point fingers. Then HE turned right around and started pointing fingers at the President Of The United States Of America. We know Kimmel Hates him. It’s the Same kind of Hate that got Charlie killed.
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Disinformation. Trump only commented on Kimmel being removed. He had nothing to do with what happened and has no authority to unilaterally remove someone from broadcasting.
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Eric you should be thinking about the karma that\'s coming your way, best wishes.
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G
Nah just Americans confronting Communists head on. Nothing to worry about.
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