Jimmy Kimmel should offer a ‘sincere’ apology for his remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination and consider making his show less ‘divisive’ if he is to win over conservative viewers, a broadcast insider has exclusively told the Mail.
Kimmel, 57, was taken off air last week over his controversial comments about the killing of the Turning Point USA founder.
The host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! had said ‘the MAGA gang’ was attempting to portray the suspect in Kirk’s killing ‘as anything other than one of them.’
ABC’s parent company, Disney, announced it had pulled the show to ‘avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotionally charged moment for the country.’
But, after ‘having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy,’ Disney said the show will return to its platforms Tuesday night.
However, Sinclair and Nexstar, which account for a third of ABC’s affiliates, have said they will not be airing the show on their stations.
A source with knowledge of the talks between one of the media firms and Disney, revealed executives remain in the dark about what Kimmel will say on tonight’s show.
As a result, they decided it was ‘too risky’ to air the show and alienate conservative viewers of their local stations, the source added.
Jimmy Kimmel should offer a ‘sincere’ apology for his remarks about Charlie Kirk ’s assassination and consider making his show less ‘divisive’ if he is to win over conservative viewers, a broadcast insider has exclusively told the Mail
Kimmel, 57, was taken off air last week over his controversial comments about the killing of the Turning Point USA founder
The source said: ‘We have no clue [what he’s going to say]. They won’t tell us. And as affiliates, we can’t just go on their word.
‘The team said “It’s just too risky for us. We need to see what he says”.
‘I don’t think we were given enough assurances.’
The source slapped down claims by politicians and celebrities that the boycott of Kimmel’s show was ‘the end of free speech’.
They said: ‘We’re not happy about anything. The one thing that no one tends to understand is that we’re local businesses.’
They pointed out that Charlie Kirk’s funeral had driven huge ratings, having been watched by millions, and suggested some people don’t appreciate the strength of feeling of people in ‘pretty conservative’ areas, like Salt Lake City, where Kirk was assassinated.
It’s a stark contrast to largely liberal leaning late night which has been hemorrhaging viewers for year.
And many viewers have responded ‘positively’ to the firm’s move to uphold its boycott of Kimmel’s show, they added.
Asked how long the broadcaster will refuse to air Kimmel’s show, the source said bosses will closely monitor the host’s comments on Tuesday night.
Charlie Kirk’s funeral had driven huge ratings, having been watched by millions, and suggested some people don’t appreciate the strength of feeling of people in ‘pretty conservative’ areas, like Salt Lake City, where Kirk was assassinated
KIMMEL IS BACK, declares a large sign displayed over the 101 freeway in Hollywood
‘I think a lot of it depends on what he says tonight, how he handles it, if he handles it with grace. Maybe it’s over tomorrow.
‘If the audience will embrace him and he can come back, he needs to apologize. He needs to be sincere about it.’
But if Kimmel is to truly win back conservative viewers, he should consider ‘his show being less divisive in our country,’ the figure added.
‘If you’re only going to have one-sided guests, they don’t want that in our markets, affiliates didn’t sign up for that.
‘He needs to say we need to be more balanced. When the affiliates signed up for that show years ago, it was funny.
‘It’s simple for us. We have a lot of viewers, and we need the show to be something that our viewers are willing to embrace without having the fear of being pushed an agenda.’
Kimmel’s late-night TV return is set to be a ratings disaster after 70 ABC affiliate stations said they would not be broadcasting Tuesday’s show.
Sinclair said on Monday evening it will not air Jimmy Kimmel Live! On its 38 ABC affiliates – including in the liberal enclaves of Seattle and Portland.
Nexstar said on Tuesday morning it will boycott Jimmy Kimmel Live! on its 32 ABC stations.
That means close to a third of ABC’s 230 local-level stations will not run the network’s flagship late-night show, which was pulled off air last Wednesday.
Sinclair and Nexstar want Kimmel to apologize for his comments about Kirk’s assassination, before they agree to air his show, a source reportedly told Fox News.
Disney and other networks are said to be coordinating with Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, to settle the dispute.
‘Everyone would accept a real apology,’ a source reportedly told Fox.
‘Will it subside the rage? Sinclair and Nexstar will be watching closely’ they said, adding that Disney execs ‘want peace.’
ABC has not released transcripts of Kimmel’s monologue ahead of Tuesday night’s show airing, however, sources close to the negotiations believe a ‘apology/non apology’ is in the works.
