In the wake of Jimmy Kimmel’s indefinite suspension from ABC following controversial remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith has weighed in, and he didn’t hold back.
Smith, known for his unfiltered takes on sports and culture, delivered a candid assessment of the situation on his SiriusXM show and YouTube channel, questioning both the content of Kimmel’s monologue and the network’s decision to pull the plug. Smith’s initial response was pointed:
“The only thing I would say as it pertains to Jimmy Kimmel is, where was the joke? Because you’re a late-night host, and obviously that has a comedic attachment to it. Where was the joke? Obviously, it wasn’t anything funny about that”.
While acknowledging Kimmel’s long-standing contributions to ABC and Disney, Smith made it clear that the segment in question, where Kimmel suggested the assassin of Charlie Kirk was MAGA-aligned and accused Republicans of exploiting the tragedy, lacked comedic merit and veered into political provocation.
Kimmel’s remarks aired during a monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live! following Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University. The backlash was swift. FCC Chair Brendan Carr publicly criticized the segment, and major broadcasters like Nexstar Media Group refused to air the show. Within 48 hours, ABC announced the show would be “pre-empted indefinitely”.
The move sparked outrage across Hollywood, with stars like David Letterman, Wanda Sykes, and Jamie Lee Curtis defending Kimmel’s right to free speech. Emmy-winning producer Damon Lindelof even vowed to boycott Disney until Kimmel is reinstated.
Beyond the joke itself, Smith expressed concern about the broader implications of Kimmel’s suspension:
“You don’t think I noticed how our First Amendment rights are being trampled on? … Whether tasteless or not, he was telling the joke. He was making people laugh”.
Smith’s comments carry added weight given his own ties to Disney, which owns both ESPN and ABC. While he expressed disappointment in Kimmel’s delivery, he also defended the host’s legacy:
“I do think he’s a good man. I do think his heart is in the right place. I do think he’s done an incredible service to the ABC and Walt Disney family spanning decades”.
🚨NEW: Stephen A. Smith on his fellow Disney host Jimmy Kimmel getting yanked off air after Charlie Kirk monologue:
“Where was the joke? Because you’re a late-night host — and obviously that has a comedic attachment to it. Where was the joke? Obviously, it wasn’t anything funny… pic.twitter.com/tpRtiqwXwx
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) September 18, 2025
