NexStar CEO Justifies Pulling ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Amid Free Speech Debate
Late-night television has always thrived on bold jokes and boundary-pushing commentary. For decades, hosts have walked the fine line between comedy and controversy, entertaining audiences while sparking passionate debates. Sometimes, though, the reaction to what’s said on air reaches far beyond fan chatter and social media.
That’s exactly what happened when a popular talk show host’s recent remarks triggered a wave of unexpected corporate decisions. What started as a few controversial comments quickly turned into a high-stakes standoff involving some of the country’s biggest broadcasters, Disney, and one of the most recognizable names in late-night television.
Related: How Michael Eisner’s Bold Words Forced Disney to Bring Back Jimmy Kimmel
On September 17, two of ABC’s largest affiliate broadcasters — NexStar Media and Sinclair Broadcasting — announced that, effective immediately, they would be pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! off all of their stations. The move followed controversial comments made by Jimmy Kimmel about Donald Trump and the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Not long after the decision from Sinclair and NexStar, Disney and ABC announced they would also remove Kimmel’s show from the air. Behind the scenes, however, conversations were already underway. Almost immediately, Kimmel’s legal team and Disney began discussing how to get the show back on the air.
Just five days after his suspension, Disney announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would return, and the program was back on September 23.
Related: Disney Stock Takes a Hit as Kimmel Suspension Sparks Streaming Chaos
Fans of the show rejoiced at the comeback — but there was a catch. Even though Jimmy Kimmel was back, many viewers soon realized they still couldn’t watch. NexStar and Sinclair stood firm, saying they would continue not to air Jimmy Kimmel Live! despite the backlash that followed the initial suspension.
Between the two companies, they controlled nearly 70 of Disney’s more than 230 affiliate stations, leaving more than 20% of the country without access to the late-night program.
At first, it seemed like both broadcasters were determined to keep the show off the air indefinitely. Yet just three days after Kimmel’s return, Sinclair announced it had reached an agreement with Disney to once again broadcast the show. NexStar followed with a similar announcement only a few hours later, signaling a quick change of course after the initial hard stance.
The suspension itself sparked a major debate about free speech. Many viewers felt the decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! violated the comedian’s First Amendment rights.
In an internal memo sent to employees, however, NexStar CEO Perry Sook defended the move and clarified the company’s reasoning, writing, “No one has an unlimited right to say whatever they want on a talk show.”
He continued:
“Every network and station has made tough calls when on-air conduct crosses a line. That isn’t a violation of the First Amendment — it’s an exercise of editorial responsibility and stewardship of the public airwaves.
As we said in our press release, Nexstar remains committed to protecting the First Amendment, delivering fact-based and unbiased news, and broadcasting content that best serves our communities. These principles guided us throughout this process and will continue to do so.”
Related: Roseanne Barr Calls Out Disney for ‘Double Standard’ After Jimmy Kimmel’s Return
Sinclair Broadcasting, for its part, had initially tied Kimmel’s return to a set of conditions. Reports said Mr. Kimmel would have needed to apologize to Charlie Kirk’s family and donate money to both the family and Kirk’s organization, Turning Point U.S.A., before the program would air again.
However, when NexStar and Sinclair ultimately agreed to bring the late-night show back, no conditions were imposed .
Were you surprised that Sinclair and NexStar both agreed to bring Jimmy Kimmel Live! back so quickly? Are you also surprised that he didn’t have to agree to any demands or conditions? Do you think his show should have been suspended in the first place? Was it an attack on free speech? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
