After ABC announced the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! following Kimmel’s comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Marlon Wayans weighed in on the controversy.
“This is America,” Wayans told reporters on the red carpet when asked about the abrupt cancellation. He noted that Kimmel was sidelined for his mild critique of Donald Trump’s reaction to being asked how he was “holding up” after Kirk’s death. “You know what we’re seeing is not something that we, myself as a Black man, hasn’t seen before. I just think it’s a shame and I think every last American loses because of this.”
Though he called the move “a shame,” Wayans expressed confidence in Kimmel’s resilience. “Guys and artists, voices like Jimmy Kimmel, we have to be courageous,” he added. “It’s a new beginning. You can’t stop the dunk. You just made me create a new lane. That’s all.”
The suspension came after Nexstar Media Group abruptly pulled the late-night show from its 200 stations across the U.S., citing objections to “recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk.” Kirk, a conservative activist and media personality, was fatally shot in the neck at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, sparking intense political debate.
Authorities have identified the alleged shooter as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, though his motives remain unclear. Meanwhile, Kimmel addressed the speculation during his Sept. 15 monologue, saying: “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.” He also called out Trump for focusing more on White House renovations than on Kirk’s death when pressed by reporters.
Before ABC made the call, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr had threatened action against the network. “Local broadcasters have an obligation to serve the public interest,” Carr stated. “While this may be an unprecedented decision, it is important for broadcasters to push back on Disney programming that they determine falls short of community.”
The suspension has drawn backlash from several critics, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, who called it an attack on free speech.
