Washington Examiner Senior Writer called ABC’s decision to pull ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ “a market response” and criticized Kimmel for making what he described as a “reckless” and “libelous” joke related to the assassination.

“In this case, the market is speaking,” York said. “Making a joke—any joke—about this assassination at this time is incredibly reckless, and making one based on a libelous falsehood is even worse,” York said on Fox News’s  ‘The Ingraham Angle’ Wednesday. 

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ABC has pulled late-night host Jimmy Kimmel off the air ‘indefinitely’ following backlash over comments he made days after the tragic killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

 The move marks a significant shift in the late-night television landscape and has drawn attention not only for the network’s decision but also for what critics say is a long-overdue reckoning with the tone of political comedy.

KIMMEL CANCELLATION ISN’T ‘CANCEL CULTURE.’ IT’S CONSEQUENCE CULTURE

“There have been two assassination attempts on Trump and now the killing of Charlie Kirk,” he said. “This is a serious moment, a serious presidency, and these comedians are failing to grapple with that,” York said. 

Kimmel’s comments, which appeared to suggest that those on the right were “desperately” trying to distance themselves from the political motivations of Kirk’s killer, ignited a firestorm. 

“The MAGA Gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said on his broadcast Monday. 

Sinclair is one of the nation’s largest broadcast companies and owns several ABC affiliate stations, giving it the influence to put pressure on ABC to take action, resulting in the pulling of the late-night show.

While Sinclair and Nexstar both own several ABC affiliates, ABC itself is owned by parent company the Walt Disney Company.

Sinclair has also been known for being a conservative learning television station operator.

While Sinclair has pulled ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ indefinitely, they have since called on the network to do more and has plans to air a Charlie Kirk reference special Friday during Kimmel’s live shot. 

As of Thursday morning, neither ABC nor Kimmel has issued an official statement addressing the controversy.