Sinclair ABC Stations Drop Charlie Kirk Special, Air ‘Celebrity Family Feud’ Rerun

Sinclair’s decision to replace the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” timeslot on its ABC-affiliated stations with a special news segment on conservative activist Charlie Kirk caused quite a stir. However, the TV station group owner ultimately decided to air the Kirk special on YouTube instead of on its ABC local stations in order to allow viewers to continue enjoying ABC programming. The last-minute change of plans resulted in a rerun of “Celebrity Family Feud” hosted by Steve Harvey airing in the 11:35 p.m. slot on ABC.

In a statement posted at 11:24 p.m. ET on Friday, Sinclair announced that the Charlie Kirk special would be available on The National News Desk’s YouTube channel, ensuring that viewers could still access ABC programming while also having the option to watch the special online.

The decision to pull “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from the lineups of Sinclair and Nexstar Media Group affiliates came after Kimmel made controversial comments on his show that sparked outrage among MAGA supporters. FCC chairman Brendan Carr’s comments on a conservative podcast further fueled the controversy, leading to pressure on ABC and its affiliates to take action against Kimmel or face potential consequences from the agency.

ABC ultimately announced that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would be preempted indefinitely, and discussions were reportedly underway between Kimmel and Disney executives to find a compromise to bring the show back on the air.

Sinclair, known for its conservative politics, stated that Kimmel would need to apologize to Kirk’s family and make a meaningful personal donation to them and Turning Point USA before the show could return to its ABC affiliates. The vice chairman of Sinclair, Jason Smith, emphasized the importance of broadcasters promoting respectful and constructive dialogue in their communities.

The 55-minute special on Kirk, titled “The National News Desk: Special Edition; The Life and Legacy of Charlie Kirk,” aimed to provide insights into the political landscape in America and the future of politics. Sinclair operates 38 ABC affiliates, including stations in major cities like Washington, D.C., Seattle, and St. Louis.

In the meantime, the episode of “Celebrity Family Feud” that aired on ABC stations featured singer Normani and actor-comedian Michelle Buteau, followed by actor-comedian Andy Richter and actor Jason Ritter competing for charity prize money. The decision to replace the regular programming with the Kirk special sparked debate and raised questions about the role of broadcasters in shaping public discourse.