Late-Night Fallout: Jimmy Kimmel Blames Caitlin Clark for Show’s Indefinite Suspension Amid Charlie Kirk Controversy..
In a stunning escalation of Hollywood’s culture wars, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel lashed out at WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark on Thursday, accusing her of fueling the toxic rhetoric that led to his show’s abrupt removal from ABC airwaves. The move follows Kimmel’s Monday monologue mocking conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination, which drew swift backlash from President Donald Trump’s administration.
Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on September 10 during a speech at Utah Valley University by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, whose motives remain under investigation. In his segment, Kimmel quipped, “The MAGA gang is desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,” implying the shooter aligned with Trump’s base. The remarks ignited fury, with Fox News decrying them as “blood libel” and affiliates like Nexstar and Sinclair refusing to air the show, citing pending FCC approvals for mergers.
By Wednesday, FCC Chair Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, publicly threatened ABC’s broadcast licenses, calling Kimmel’s words “offensive and insensitive.” ABC responded hours later, preempting *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* indefinitely, replacing it with a Kirk tribute special. Trump, from Windsor Castle during a UK state visit, hailed it as “Great News for America” on Truth Social, falsely claiming the show was “canceled” due to poor ratings.
Kimmel, 57, broke his silence in a raw Instagram Live rant from his Hollywood studio, his voice cracking with fury. “This isn’t just about me or Charlie Kirk—it’s the poison we’ve all swallowed,” he said, eyes red-rimmed. Then came the bombshell: “Caitlin Clark, you and your high-and-mighty Iowa girl act? You’re one of them. Parading that ‘all-American’ facade while your fans cheer the division—it’s you, it’s the media, it’s all of us enabling this MAGA madness that got my show yanked.”
Clark, 23, the Indiana Fever phenom who’s shattered WNBA records amid debates over race and privilege in women’s basketball, has faced conservative backlash for her wholesome image contrasting with league dynamics. Kimmel, a vocal critic of Trump, seemed to pivot blame, suggesting Clark’s “polarizing” stardom—praised by Kirk in life—exemplified the cultural rifts now costing him his platform. “She scores points off the court too, dividing us while pretending to unite,” Kimmel fumed, drawing gasps from viewers.
The outburst stunned allies. Senator Chuck Schumer called the suspension “despicable censorship,” likening it to authoritarian tactics. Hollywood figures like Ben Stiller decried it as a “threat to free speech,” while Jean Smart posted, “Horrified—Jimmy’s opinion isn’t hate.” On the right, podcaster Ben Shapiro tweeted, “Kimmel’s meltdown proves the left eats its own.”
Kimmel’s contract expires in May 2026, but insiders whisper Disney’s fearing regulatory heat. Fans gathered outside the El Capitan Theatre, chanting “Free Kimmel!” as his team scrambles. Clark, yet to respond, continues her Fever tour amid playoff buzz.
This saga underscores America’s fraying discourse: a comedian’s jest spirals into federal arm-twisting, with a basketball icon caught in the crossfire. As Kimmel packs his desk, one question lingers—has late-night comedy become collateral in the Trump era’s grudge match?
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