Jimmy Kimmel Will Not Air on Sinclair Stations After Top ABC Affiliate Demanded Host Apologize, Pay Charlie Kirk’s Family

Jimmy Kimmel Live! is set to return on Tuesday, Sept. 23, but not all viewers will be able to watch.

On Monday, Sept. 22, the Walt Disney Company announced in a press release that the late-night show would be back on the air. The company explained that its earlier decision to suspend production was made to “avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.”

“We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday,” Disney said.

Shortly after, Sinclair Broadcast Group — which owns the largest group of ABC affiliates in the country — posted its own statement on social media.

“Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming,” the post read. “Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.”

Jimmy Kimmel Live! was originally pulled off the air on Sept. 17. An ABC spokesperson told PEOPLE at the time that the show would be paused “indefinitely” after Kimmel’s Sept. 15 monologue about Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed on Sept. 10.

During that broadcast, Kimmel criticized attempts to politicize the murder, while also commenting on President Trump’s reaction. At one point, after showing Trump speaking about new construction at the White House, Kimmel joked, “Yes, he’s at the fourth stage of grief, construction.”

After Kirk’s death, Kimmel also posted on social media offering condolences to Kirk’s family. He wrote, “Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human? On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.”

Sinclair, which owns ABC affiliates in 30 U.S. markets including KOMO in Seattle, WJLA in Washington, D.C., KDNL in St. Louis, KTUL in Tulsa, and KATU in Portland, has supported ABC’s decision to initially pull the program.

In a Sept. 17 press release, Sinclair stated it “objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the assassination of Charlie Kirk” and would “indefinitely preempt” the show.

“Mr. Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country,” Sinclair vice chairman Jason Smith said. “We believe broadcasters have a responsibility to educate and elevate respectful, constructive dialogue in our communities.”

Smith also urged the Federal Communications Commission to take action regarding the influence of national networks over local broadcasters.

Sinclair’s press release included demands that Kimmel apologize directly to the Kirk family, make a donation to both the family and Turning Point USA, and participate in “formal discussions” about professionalism and accountability with ABC. The company also aired a special tribute to Kirk on Sept. 19 in Kimmel’s timeslot.

Meanwhile, many in Hollywood voiced support for Kimmel after the suspension. Late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert publicly defended him, along with Conan O’Brien, David Letterman, Howard Stern, and the co-hosts of The View.

In addition, more than 400 celebrities signed a letter organized by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), backing Kimmel’s right to free speech. Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks, Selena Gomez, Pedro Pascal, Diego Luna, Martin Short, and Meryl Streep were among those who added their names.