Wanda Sykes is reacting to her planned appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! being canceled at the last minute.
The popular comedian, 61, was due to be interviewed by host Jimmy Kimmel on the Wednesday, September 17, episode of his hit ABC late-night talk show, however, the network pulled the program from the schedule “indefinitely” Wednesday afternoon.
In an Instagram video, Sykes said, “I’m in a full face of makeup because I was supposed to go over and have a chat with my friend Jimmy Kimmel on his show.”
“But as you have heard by now, Jimmy Kimmel’s show has been pulled indefinitely, abruptly, because of complaints from the Trump administration,” she alleged, accusing President Donald Trump of ending “freedom of speech.”
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Sykes concluded the video, “For those of you who pray, now’s the time to do it. Love you, Jimmy.”
Earlier Wednesday, ABC confirmed it was pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the foreseeable future. “Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely,” an ABC spokesperson told Us Weekly.
Nexstar Media Group, which owns and operates 32 ABC affiliate networks in the U.S., said on Wednesday it would not air Kimmel’s show amid criticism over the comedian’s comments about the death of Charlie Kirk on the Monday, September 15, episode.
Nexstar said in a press release that its “owned and partner television stations affiliated with the ABC Television Network will pre-empt Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the foreseeable future, beginning with tonight’s show.”
The company continued, “Nexstar strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets.”
During Monday’s broadcast, Kimmel made remarks about Tyler Robinson, the man arrested and charged in connection with Kirk’s death on September 10. “We had 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 with everything they can to score political points from it,” he said.
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On Wednesday, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr called Kimmel’s comments “some of the sickest conduct possible” and urged ABC to take action.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said on The Benny Show. “These companies can find ways to change conduct and take actions on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
