These MI TV Stations Still Won't Air Jimmy Kimmel

A handful of Michigan TV stations will not air Jimmy Kimmel as he returns to television after he was suspended last week for comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Two major broadcasting giants, Nexstar and Sinclair, said they will not air the talk show on its ABC stations.

"Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming," Sinclair said in a post on X. "Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return."

Sinclair owns 39 ABC stations, including WGTU in Traverse City, WTOM-TV in Cheboygan and WGTQ in Sault Ste. Marie.

Nexstar has stations in Lansing (WLAJ) and Grand Rapids (WOTV).

Disney suspended the show to "avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country," the company said in a statement Monday.

What did Kimmel say about Charlie Kirk?

Kimmel focused on the reaction to the assassination of Kirk during the opening monologue of his Sept. 15 show

"We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said.

Tyler Robinson, 22, was charged with killing Kirk. Officials said he grew up in a conservative household in southern Utah but was enmeshed in “leftist ideology.” His parents told investigators he had turned politically left and pro-LGBTQ rights in the last year.

Utah records show he was registered as a voter, but not affiliated with either political party. His voter status is inactive, meaning he did not vote in two regular general elections.

Stations Will Not Air "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

Two of the biggest corporate owners of ABC affiliate stations — Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair — said they would pull the show from their stations, which represent 66 of the 230 that air ABC programming.

Sinclair said last week it would not air "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on any of its stations until "formal discussions are held with ABC regarding the network's commitment to professionalism and accountability."

The company also called upon Kimmel to "issue a direct apology to the Kirk family. Furthermore, we ask Mr. Kimmel to make a meaningful personal donation to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA."

What ABC Is Saying About Kimmel's Return

Disney's announcement Monday comes after its decision to pull Kimmel off the air served as a flashpoint for free speech.

The suspension was celebrated by President Donald Trump, who said it was "great news for America," and suggested federal regulators should revoke broadcast licenses over late-night hosts who speak negatively about him.

But Kimmel's suspension also prompted swift condemnation, including from fellow late-night host Stephen Colbert, who called the suspension a "blatant assault on freedom of speech.” Protests have been held outside Disney's studio lot in Burbank and outside the El Capitan Entertainment Complex on Hollywood Boulevard, where Kimmel's show is based.

Patch Editor Anna Schier contributed to this story