FILE – Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk speaks before Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at the Turning Point Believers’ Summit, July 26, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Sinclair, which owns hundreds of ABC affiliate stations, backed out of airing a remembrance of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, posting a YouTube link instead.
Sinclair was one of the broadcast groups to take issue with late night host Jimmy Kimmel’s comments related to Kirk’s murder. Kirk was shot and killed during an event at a Utah college campus. Tyler Robinson has since been charged with the murder.
Kimmel found himself facing an indefinite suspension by ABC after he accused MAGA of “desperately” trying to paint Robinson as “anything other than one of them.”
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,” he said.
ABC’s suspension decision was preceded by FCC Chair Brendan Carr taking issue publicly with Kimmel and Nexstar, which owns dozens of affiliate channels, saying they would preempt Kimmel’s show for the foreseeable future.
According to Utah officials, Robinson was “indoctrinated” in far-left “ideology” in the years leading up to Kirk’s murder.
Sinclair demanded an apology from Kimmel and planned to show a Kirk tribute on Friday night. Regular ABC broadcasting was instead shown.
“Tonight, Sinclair will continue to air ABC network programming as scheduled in the late-night time period,” the company said in a statement. “The Charlie Kirk special will instead be available on The National News Desk’s YouTube channel, ensuring viewers can continue to enjoy ABC programming while also providing full access to the special online.”
As of this writing, the Kirk special has received around 6,000 views.
The post Sinclair Quietly Backs Out of Airing Charlie Kirk Special Amid Kimmel Suspension, Offers YouTube Link Instead first appeared on Mediaite.
