MAGA TV Stations Launch New Boycott of Jimmy Kimmel

If you were planning to catch Jimmy Kimmel Live! on your local ABC channel tonight, you might be out of luck—especially if you live in one of dozens of major cities across America.

Two of the country’s biggest TV station owners have pulled the plug on Kimmel’s late-night return, launching what many are calling a politically charged boycott.

It all started after Kimmel made a controversial remark on his September 15 show. In a monologue, he accused supporters of former President Trump—often referred to as the “MAGA crowd”—of trying to spin the story around the recent tragic killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel suggested the alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, had ties to the MAGA movement, which set off a firestorm.

The backlash came quickly.

Within days, Disney (which owns ABC) suspended Kimmel. But after intense criticism from both sides of the political aisle—Democrats upset by the suspension, Republicans outraged by his comments—Disney reversed course and reinstated him just days later.

That move passed the buck to local stations. And now, major broadcasters are saying: not so fast.

Nexstar Media Group—the biggest local TV owner in the country—announced Tuesday morning that it won’t air Jimmy Kimmel Live! on any of its ABC affiliates for the time being. Nexstar owns stations in big cities like Nashville, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, and even Washington, D.C.

“We decided to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! following what ABC called his ‘ill-timed and insensitive’ comments,” Nexstar said in a statement. “We’re standing by that decision while we wait for a commitment to respectful, constructive dialogue.”

The move came just hours after Sinclair Broadcast Group—another conservative-leaning media powerhouse—announced it would also not carry Kimmel’s return.

Between the two companies, nearly 25% of all ABC stations in the U.S. have now opted out of airing the show.

Instead of Kimmel, many stations plan to air local programming or extended news coverage during the late-night slot. Meanwhile, fans of Kimmel’s brand of comedy will still be able to watch the show on Disney-owned streaming platforms like Hulu and Disney+.

But for millions of Americans who still get their TV the old-fashioned way—via antenna or basic cable—Kimmel’s absence will be noticeable.

The controversy has also drawn attention from the highest levels of government. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, an appointee of President Donald Trump, publicly criticized Kimmel’s remarks and implied that the network should take action—or face consequences.

“This wasn’t just a hot take,” Carr said on CNBC. “It was a deeply misleading statement about one of the most politically sensitive moments in recent memory.”

Some media watchers believe Nexstar’s decision is about more than just content—it could be political timing. The company is currently seeking FCC approval for a $6 billion media merger and may be looking to avoid rocking the boat in Washington.

So far, Kimmel hasn’t commented publicly on the boycott. But the late-night host, known for mixing comedy with sharp political jabs, is unlikely to stay quiet for long.

With tensions rising and both sides of the aisle weighing in, one thing is clear: the late-night TV wars aren’t going away anytime soon.