Jimmy Kimmel silent after show pulled over Charlie Kirk remarks

(NewsNation) — Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has yet to release a response after ABC pulled "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" from the air indefinitely following his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The network's move came after Nexstar Media Group announced it would preempt Kimmel’s show and replace it with other programming. Nexstar, which owns NewsNation, also owns 32 ABC affiliates.

During the show Monday, Kimmel said the country “hit some new lows over the weekend” when the “MAGA gang desperately tried to characterize this kid who killed Kirk as anything other than one of them.”

Kirk was fatally shot last week during an appearance at Utah Valley University, where he debated students with differing political views.

On the show, Kimmel accused Republicans of trying to “score political points” from his death.

Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr praised ABC's decision, writing on social media: "Broadcast TV stations have always been required by their licenses to operate in the public interest—that includes serving the needs of their local communities ... I am glad to see that many broadcasters are responding to their viewers as intended."

On NewsNation's "CUOMO," Bill O’Reilly blasted Kimmel’s remarks.

“What Kimmel did is inexplicable to me,” O’Reilly said. “He had to know on Monday, in his dialogue, how raw the country was over this assassination of Charlie Kirk. He had to know that.”

Hollywood stars and labor unions have criticized ABC's move, defending Kimmel's right to free speech.

"This isn't right," actor Ben Stiller said in a social media post.

Comedian Wanda Sykes, who was scheduled to appear on the show Wednesday, urged support for Kimmel.

"Let’s see. He didn’t end the Ukraine war or solve Gaza within his first week. But he did end freedom of speech within his first year," Sykes said. "Hey, for those of you who pray, now’s the time to do it. Love you, Jimmy."

The Writers Guild of America, the American Federation of Musicians and SAF-AFTRA condemned the cancellation as an attack on free speech.

NewsNation's Rob Taub contributed to this report.