On September 17, 2025, ABC announced that it was “indefinitely” taking Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air following comments Kimmel made regarding the suspect in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. During his monologue on September 15, Kimmel had said that the “MAGA gang” was “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. In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.” Two days later Brendan Carr, the head of the Federal Communications Commission, called the remarks “the sickest conduct possible.” And he suggested that his agency would attempt to revoke ABC affiliate licenses if action was not taken against Kimmel. The show returned to the air on September 23 after widespread protests, although some stations did not air the show.