Nolte: Unrepentant Jimmy Kimmel Reportedly ‘F**king Livid,’ Eager to Break ABC Contract

Reports are surfacing that former comedian Jimmy Kimmel is “fucking livid” over the suspension of his basement-rated late-night show — a suspension that looks more and more like a prelude to outright cancellation. For a host who long ago traded comedy for political crusading, the irony is rich.

Kimmel is reportedly even considering breaking his contract with ABC. The timing is notable: just days after he used the public airwaves — a resource held in trust for the American people — to spread the disinformation that Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk had been assassinated by a Donald Trump supporter. This wasn’t framed as a punchline. It wasn’t satire. It was presented as a fact.

“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 and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said.

That claim was false. More than false — it was slander. For decades, broadcast networks have been given access to the public airwaves on the condition that they serve the public interest. Spreading politically charged lies does the opposite. Kimmel’s comments weren’t just careless; they were corrosive to trust in media and to the standards that are supposed to guide those who hold a privileged platform.

The truth is that this suspension was overdue. For years, Kimmel has blurred the line between comedy and propaganda, lacing his monologues with contempt for conservatives and, in many cases, outright fabrications. Now, after years of skating past accountability, he finally hit a wall.

But instead of contrition, Kimmel is reportedly furious — “actively looking” to break his ABC contract, according to the New York Post. “Jimmy is pissed over the decision to suspend him and the show and he isn’t going to take this lightly, as he is actively looking for ways to get out of his contract,” one source said. Another insider insisted they’ve “never seen Kimmel this angry.”

To the average viewer, that may sound like bluster. After all, ABC has endured steep ratings losses and revenue decline on Kimmel’s watch. News that the host wants to leave is hardly the sort of bargaining chip he seems to think it is. If anything, network executives are probably more than willing to see him walk.

Consider the double standard: ABC/Disney canceled Roseanne Barr, Tim Allen, and Gina Carano over far less. Yet Kimmel has been permitted to peddle half-truths and outright lies for more than a decade with little pushback. When Roseanne made one offensive remark, her career was ended overnight. Kimmel, however, repeatedly engaged in politically motivated attacks, and only now has his network drawn the line.

This isn’t about a bad joke gone wrong. It’s about trust, responsibility, and respect for the American people. Using a late-night stage to lie about the death of a conservative leader is not comedy — it’s an abuse of privilege. Kimmel has the right to speak freely on his own platforms, but when entrusted with the nation’s public airwaves, the standard must be higher.

ABC’s decision is not censorship. It’s accountability. Kimmel wasn’t silenced for having an opinion. He was suspended for presenting lies as fact while exploiting a national tragedy. If he wants to continue ranting, he can do so on a blog, on social media, or anywhere else. But the American people should not have to subsidize his bias by granting him the megaphone of network television.