Late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has been suspended from his show after making controversial comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The suspension comes after Kimmel made a joke on his show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, about Kirk’s appearance at the Republican National Convention. Kimmel referred to Kirk as a “little weasel” and mocked his speech, which focused on the dangers of socialism.
The comments sparked backlash from both viewers and Kirk himself, who called for Kimmel to be fired from his show. In response, ABC, the network that airs “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, announced that Kimmel would be suspended for two weeks without pay.
In a statement, ABC said, “We take these matters very seriously and will not tolerate any actions that are inconsistent with our values as a company.”
Kimmel has since issued an apology to Kirk and anyone else who may have been offended by his comments. He stated, “I apologize to those who were genuinely hurt or offended by the jokes I made. I understand that I have a responsibility to be more careful with my words and will strive to do better in the future.”
This is not the first time Kimmel has faced backlash for his jokes. In 2018, he faced criticism for a skit in which he mocked then-First Lady Melania Trump’s accent. He also faced backlash for a segment in which he encouraged parents to prank their children by telling them they had eaten all of their Halloween candy.
Kirk, who is the founder of conservative organization Turning Point USA, has not yet commented on Kimmel’s suspension. However, he has been vocal about his disappointment with Kimmel’s comments and has called for a boycott of his show.
The suspension of Kimmel has sparked a debate about the line between comedy and offensive speech. Some argue that comedians should be able to make jokes without fear of consequences, while others believe that there should be accountability for offensive remarks.
Kimmel’s suspension will begin immediately and his show will be replaced with reruns for the next two weeks. It is unclear if there will be any further repercussions for the late-night host.
