When Jimmy Kimmel returned to ABC after his suspension, he stood on stage crying, clarifying, and railing against President Trump and the FCC. But one thing was conspicuously absent: a real apology. And now Nexstar Media Group, one of the largest owners of ABC affiliates in the country, has made its position crystal clear: Kimmel will not be returning to their airwaves any time soon.
A Network’s Patience Wears Thin
In a statement following Kimmel’s return, Nexstar said: “We are continuing to evaluate the status of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on our ABC-affiliated local television stations, and the show will be preempted while we do so. “We are engaged in productive discussions with executives at The Walt Disney Company, with a focus on ensuring the program reflects and respects the diverse interests of the communities we serve.”
Mark Ruffalo being interviewed by Jimmy Kimmel – Youtube, Jimmy Kimmel Live
That last phrase isn’t accidental. It’s a not-so-subtle shot at Kimmel’s hyper-partisan style — a nightly barrage of anti-conservative jokes wrapped in late-night comedy. Nexstar is signaling that its audience isn’t interested in being force-fed one-sided political diatribes under the guise of entertainment.
Kimmel’s “Apology” That Wasn’t
The timing makes the point even sharper. Kimmel returned to ABC after a week-long suspension for falsely suggesting the man who killed Charlie Kirk was a conservative Trump supporter — a claim already disproven before he ever went on air. His suspension came after affiliates revolted, advertisers grew nervous, and Disney faced pressure from multiple sides.
Jimmy Kimmel crying in his return monologue on ABC – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live
But when Kimmel returned, he didn’t apologize. He wept. He said it wasn’t his intention to make light of Kirk’s killing. He said it wasn’t his intention to blame any group. He said he understood why some people were upset.
What he did not say: “I apologize.”
And then, instead of taking responsibility, he pivoted to attack Trump, slam FCC Chair Brendan Carr, and paint himself as the victim of censorship. Nexstar’s reaction is telling — they weren’t buying it.
Local Stations Refuse to Be a Stage for Partisan Theater
For Nexstar, this isn’t just about one bad monologue. It’s about whether late-night programming serves their local communities or alienates them. Their statement about serving “diverse interests” makes clear that Kimmel’s one-note politics don’t fit the bill.
Jimmy Kimmel shakes hands with Joe Biden – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Nexstar is also in the middle of a massive $6.2 billion bid to acquire Tegna, a deal that requires FCC approval. Keeping their stations above the partisan fray while emphasizing community programming strengthens their case as responsible broadcasters.
In the meantime, Nexstar has said it will fill the Kimmel slot with local news and other programming more relevant to their markets. That’s another not-so-subtle swipe: our viewers would rather watch hometown coverage than Hollywood lectures.
The Numbers Game
Between Nexstar and Sinclair, more than 70 ABC affiliates across the country are refusing to air Kimmel. That accounts for more than a quarter of ABC’s local reach — a devastating blow to both the show’s visibility and its advertising power.
Jimmy Kimmel performing a Monologue on his ABC show – X, @kylenabecker
While Kimmel’s return monologue racked up millions of views online, those digital numbers don’t pay the bills the way national ad buys on network affiliates do. Without Nexstar and Sinclair, Kimmel is shouting into a smaller megaphone.
Final Thoughts
This is the heart of the Nexstar Kimmel standoff: a host who refuses to truly apologize, and a broadcaster unwilling to carry a hyper-partisan show that alienates large swaths of its audience.
Jimmy Kimmel and Joe Biden – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Kimmel wants to frame himself as a martyr for free speech. Nexstar is treating him like what he is — an entertainer whose act no longer serves the viewers they answer to. Until that changes, Jimmy Kimmel may find that the only stage left for his tears and tirades is online, not on America’s televisions.
How do you feel about Nexstar keeping Kimmel off the air? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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“BuT tHiS iS cEnSoRsHiP!” – the terminally online and the closeted wokie that posts here
This is entirely within Nexstar’s rights and it’s just good business to boot. Guess what happened when they ran reruns of Celebrity Family Feud on Kimmel’s timeslot? They got triple the ratings. That’s a pretty damning indictment of Little Jimmy’s actual popularity and how little value he adds.
If he wants to keep reaching people, he can join the tens of millions of creators on YouTube and *fight* for views for once in his sad, pathetic life.