Nexstar Media Group said on Wednesday that it will indefinitely preempt broadcasts of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on its ABC affiliates after the late-night host made comments about the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

“Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse,” said Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division.

Earlier on Wednesday, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr had urged local broadcasters to stop airing the show on Disney-owned ABC.

Nexstar Media Group said on Wednesday that it will indefinitely preempt broadcasts of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on its ABC affiliates after the late-night host made comments about the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

“Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse,” said Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division.

Earlier on Wednesday, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr had urged local broadcasters to stop airing the show on Disney-owned ABC.

Kimmel has spoken out repeatedly in the aftermath of the killing of conservative leader  Kirk.

In a statement on Instagram, Kimmel expressed sorrow and called for unity, saying that “shooting another human is horrible and monstrous” and urging people to stop the “angry finger-pointing” that erupted after Kirk’s death, according to Parade. He added that his heart went out not only to Kirk’s family but also to “the many families who have suffered as a result of this senseless gun violence.”

On his late-night show, Kimmel shifted from condolences to sharp criticism of political rhetoric around the killing. He blasted President Donald Trump for blaming the “radical left” in his initial response, arguing that the president himself has fueled inflammatory rhetoric in the past.

“He’s trying to capitalize on Charlie Kirk’s death while ignoring his own words,” Kimmel said, according to Mediaite. The host also condemned Republicans more broadly, accusing them of politicizing the tragedy rather than focusing on solutions, The Guardian reported.

Kimmel also took aim at reactions in the media and from audiences. He criticized people who publicly cheered Kirk’s death, calling those responses “vile” and “inhumane,” according to Yahoo News. While pointing out what he described as “extraordinarily vile responses” from both sides, Kimmel warned that political violence only deepens the nation’s divisions, The Guardian noted.

The late-night host went further by discussing the alleged shooter’s political ties. During a monologue, he suggested that suspect Tyler Robinson had been affiliated with the MAGA movement, though law enforcement described Robinson as espousing “leftist ideology.” That contrast drew attention, with the New York Post highlighting the discrepancy and Kimmel’s criticism of efforts to debunk possible MAGA links.

Kimmel’s remarks have also drawn regulatory scrutiny. Following his comments about the suspect, FCC Chairman Carr warned ABC and parent company Disney that they may have misled the public, according to Yahoo News.

The controversy has fueled Nexstar’s decision to preempt the late-night program in several markets, underscoring the growing tensions between late-night satire, political violence, and media responsibility.

It was not immediately known  how many stations would preempt Kimmel. Nexstar  Media Group says it owns or partners with more than 200 television stations across roughly 116-117 U.S. media markets. Some estimates say the decision could affect dozens of stations, or perhaps even more than 100 in all.

LateNighter, a digital news site/newsletter covering tyhe late-night TV landscape, has estimated first-run Kimmel episodes draw about 1.8 million viewers.