Sinclair Reverses Course: Broadcast Giant to Resume Airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Its ABC Stations After Controversial Charlie Kirk Comment Blackout Sparks Backlash
In a dramatic turnaround that underscores the volatile relationship between politics, entertainment, and broadcasting, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced on Thursday that it will begin airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! again on its ABC-affiliated television stations, ending a highly publicized blackout that followed Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The late-night comedy show was pulled earlier this month after Kimmel made on-air comments about Kirk, who died unexpectedly in early September. The remarks triggered fierce backlash from conservative audiences, prompting ABC to suspend Kimmel temporarily. When ABC reinstated the program last week, both Sinclair and Nexstar Media Group, which own dozens of ABC affiliates across the United States, chose not to air the show. Instead, they filled the time slot with alternate programming, a move that many saw as a pointed protest against the comedian’s commentary.
Now, Sinclair is backing down. In a statement released Friday, the company confirmed it will “cease preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live!” beginning this week. Executives cited feedback from viewers, advertisers, and local community leaders as the driving force behind the decision. “Our commitment has always been to serve our audiences,” the company said, “and after hearing from the communities we operate in, we believe it is in their best interest to bring the program back.”
The reversal comes after growing criticism that Sinclair, one of the country’s largest broadcasters with reach into more than 70% of American households, was overstepping editorial boundaries by blacking out a nationally syndicated show. Media watchdogs argued that the decision blurred the line between corporate influence and journalistic independence, while fans of Kimmel accused the network of censorship.
The controversy also highlights the increasingly fraught role of late-night television in American culture. Once dominated by apolitical humor, the genre has in recent years become a central platform for political commentary. Kimmel, in particular, has leaned into progressive causes, often clashing with conservative figures. His comments about Kirk—widely viewed by critics as disrespectful in the wake of Kirk’s death—sparked one of the most heated debates yet about where the line should be drawn between comedy and cruelty.
Industry experts say Sinclair’s decision to reinstate the show reflects both commercial pressure and shifting public sentiment. “When you’re a broadcaster with dozens of local affiliates, you can’t ignore advertisers and viewers who expect you to carry the full ABC lineup,” said media analyst Rebecca Taylor. “Ultimately, this was about business as much as politics.”
It remains unclear whether Nexstar will follow Sinclair’s lead, but Sinclair’s move is expected to increase pressure on the rival broadcaster. Meanwhile, ABC has declined to comment on whether it had direct influence over Sinclair’s decision, reiterating only that Kimmel remains a valued part of its late-night programming.
For now, fans of Jimmy Kimmel Live! can expect to see the late-night host back on Sinclair-owned ABC stations within days. But the saga serves as a reminder of the deep cultural divide shaping not only politics, but also the entertainment Americans consume nightly.
