Sinclair, the largest ABC affiliate in the US, says the network didn't do enough to reprimand Jimmy Kimmel for his remarks about Charlie Kirk.
ABC, owned by Disney, said it "indefinitely" suspended production of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Wednesday.
Earlier that day, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr criticized Kimmel and suggested the agency could get involved during an interview with Benny Johnson, a conservative commentator. Then, Nexstar, another ABC affiliate, said it would "preempt" the show "for the foreseeable future." Sinclair also suspended the show on its stations.
The company said in a press release that ABC's decision to suspend "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was "not enough" and included some demands if it were to ever air the show again:
- A "direct apology" from Kimmel to Kirk's family.
- A "meaningful" donation to Kirk's family and his organization, Turning Point USA.
- Appropriate steps taken to "uphold the standards expected of a national broadcast platform."
"Sinclair will not lift the suspension of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on our stations until formal discussions are held with ABC regarding the network's commitment to professionalism and accountability," the company said.
The broadcaster said it would air a special "in remembrance" of Kirk during Kimmel's usual timeslot on Friday. Kirk died this month after he was shot at an event at Utah Valley University.
An affiliate is a television station that has a contractual relationship with a national broadcast network. They are separate companies that distribute a national network's programming, alongside local programming, sharing ad revenue. Sinclair is one of the largest operators of TV affiliates in the US.
Representatives for Sinclair did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
News of ABC's decision spread quickly online, where everyone from Hollywood celebrities to politicians chimed in on the matter.
Actor Jean Smart defended Kimmel on Instagram, writing, "I am horrified at the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live. What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech."
Trump, on the other hand, celebrated the show's suspension on Truth Social.
"Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done," the post said. "Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that's possible."
ABC joins a growing number of companies disciplining employees for publicly voicing their personal opinions about Kirk. Microsoft, Office Depot, MSNBC, and the NFL's Carolina Panthers have all axed employees for what they said were inappropriate or insensitive comments.
