After his series was pulled over remarks the broadcaster made about the Charlie Kirk killing, Jimmy Kimmel’s future at ABC is said to have been in peril before his show was axed.
Jimmy Kimmel’s future at ABC is said to have been in peril before his show was axed.
The 57-year-old broadcaster has had his chat show indefinitely pulled by the network in the wake of controversy over remarks he made about the killing of Charlie Kirk, and sources have now said he was facing uncertainty with bosses anyway.
Page Six has now said in a report Jimmy “had just months left on his deal with Disney and was set to start negotiations with bigwigs later this year”.
It added sources had told the outlet ABC “may have been getting ready to push him out after this season”.
Page Six added: “Sources said the network could’ve used the furore over his outspoken nightly monologues to pull the plug early and avoid another year of Kimmel’s controversial comments.”
Jimmy was seen in Century City on Friday (19.09.25) heading to meet his lawyer Karl Austen.
Austen’s clients have included Seth MacFarlane, Jude Law, Dave Bautista and Jeffrey Wright.
According to Page Six, Jimmy could pursue a payout from ABC.
On 16 September, Jimmy said during his monologue: “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.”
ABC’s parent company Disney faced criticism from Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr, who condemned Jimmy’s comments about Tyler Robinson, 22, the man accused of killing Charlie. Brendan called for action against the host.
Sinclair, which operates the largest group of ABC affiliates in the US, issued a list of conditions for Jimmy Kimmel Live! to return to air, including an apology to Charlie’s family.
Deadline has reported Jimmy was “unwilling to apologise for his remarks.”
Right-wing activist Charlie, a political ally of US president Donald Trump, 79, was shot dead on 10 September while speaking at Utah Valley University.
Police said he died instantly from a single gunshot wound to the neck.
The killing of Charlie has intensified political divisions, sparked heated debate over gun violence and free speech, and placed renewed scrutiny on media, security, and public discourse in America.
Jimmy Kimmel’s future at ABC ‘in peril before his show was axed’
