ABC insiders are apoplectic over the cancellation of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” — and they’re blaming the network for not editing the late-night host’s controversial monologue before it aired Monday.
Kimmel’s show was pulled from the air “indefinitely” Wednesday night after the host made apparently false claims about Charlie Kirk’s accused killer — implying that he was part of the MAGA movement. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr seized on Kimmel’s comments in a Thursday CNBC interview, saying they “appeared to directly mislead” the public.
“ABC is stupid,” one ABC source fumed. “They should have edited Kimmel. They know Trump is after him. Their standards department should have flagged it. They should have known better.”
Carr and President Trump have zeroed in on major networks including ABC over their alleged bias and news distortion. Trump settled a lawsuit for $16 million with the Disney-owned network last year over defamatory claims by its star anchor George Stephanopoulos.
A source close to ABC said the settlement should have served as a “lesson” for ABC when it comes to sensitive political topics.
“It’s ABC’s fault. After what happened with George Stephanopoulos, they should have known,” the person said, adding that Kimmel’s monologue had “veered into political commentary” and away from “comedy.”
ABC did not respond to requests for comment.
The comments in question came early in Kimmel’s monologue Monday...
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