David Letterman criticized ABC’s decision to pull “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air indefinitely after Kimmel’s comments about the reaction to Charlie Kirk’s killing. Speaking at The Atlantic Festival on Sept. 18, the 78-year-old former late-night host called the situation “managed media,” said he had heard from Kimmel, and linked the move to pressure from the Trump administration.
Former “Late Show” host David Letterman criticized ABC on Thursday, Sept. 18, for indefinitely pulling “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air after Kimmel’s monologue about the reaction to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Speaking at The Atlantic Festival 2025, the 78-year-old said he believed the decision reflected political pressure and shared that he had heard from Kimmel that morning.
Letterman’s criticism of ABC
“This is misery,” Letterman said when asked about Kimmel’s suspension, adding, “I feel bad about this.”
“We see where this is all going, correct?” he said. “It’s managed media. And it’s no good. It’s silly. It’s ridiculous.”
Letterman said a network “can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful,” and accused ABC of trying to please what he called an “authoritarian criminal” administration. “That’s just not how this works,” he said.
He also argued that the presidency should be above a fight with a comedian. “The institution of the president of the United States ought to be bigger than a guy doing a talk show,” Letterman said.
Letterman’s update on Kimmel
Letterman told the audience he had been in touch with Kimmel by text that morning. Describing how Kimmel was doing, he joked: “He’s up in bed, taking nourishment. He’s going to be fine.” The line drew laughter from the crowd.
The monologue that led to the suspension
The controversy began with Kimmel’s monologue on Monday, Sept. 15, about the political reaction to the fatal shooting of Kirk, 31, the founder of Turning Point USA, at a university event in Utah on Sept. 10.
“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,” Kimmel said.
Critics said the remarks mischaracterized the suspect and were insensitive while the country was grieving. Kimmel’s supporters said he was criticizing how politicians were using the killing. Days earlier, Kimmel had posted on Instagram after the shooting, writing in part: “Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human?”
How Kimmel came off the air
Pressure on ABC built quickly. Nexstar Media Group, which owns or operates dozens of ABC affiliates, said it would preempt the show on its stations, and Sinclair Broadcast Group followed with a similar announcement.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, also criticized Kimmel’s remarks and suggested the FCC could take action against broadcasters that aired the show. Free speech advocates and some lawmakers from both parties said comments from a federal regulator about a broadcaster’s content raised First Amendment concerns.
On Wednesday, Sept. 17, ABC, which is owned by Disney, announced that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would be pulled indefinitely.
Letterman’s comparison to Colbert
Letterman connected Kimmel’s situation to CBS’s July announcement that it would end “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” the program Letterman hosted for 22 years, in 2026. CBS said that decision was purely financial, but some critics questioned the timing because it came as CBS’s parent company, Paramount, was seeking federal approval for a merger.
Letterman said Kimmel’s removal “was predicted by our president right after Stephen Colbert got walked off,” and asked: “so you’re telling me this isn’t premeditated at some level?”
Trump’s reaction
President Donald Trump welcomed the decision on Truth Social, calling it “Great News for America” and writing, “Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.” He also criticized Kimmel’s ratings and talent, and urged NBC to remove its late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, whom he called “total losers.”
Reaction from other comedians
Other late-night hosts, including Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart and Seth Meyers, used their shows to criticize the suspension and defend Kimmel, calling it a threat to free expression. Conservative commentators and some Republicans, by contrast, argued that ABC was within its rights as a private company to respond to the backlash over the monologue.
What comes next
ABC did not say when or whether “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would return. The suspension has become part of a broader debate over the relationship between broadcasters, regulators and political satire, with media and First Amendment experts warning that government pressure on networks could lead to more caution in late-night programming.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
